metamorphic
Jasper and Greenstone Pebble
Siliceous rock / Metamorphic pebble
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, colors ranging from blue-green to brownish-yellow, dull to waxy luster, microcrystalline structure, conchoidal fracture.
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Jasper and Greenstone Pebble in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, colors ranging from blue-green to brownish-yellow, dull to waxy luster, microcrystalline structure, conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through regional or hydrothermal metamorphism and subsequent weathering and water-tumble transport in rivers or beaches over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative landscape gravel, in lapidary arts for tumbling and polishing, and by casual rock collectors.
Geological facts
River-tumbled pebbles like this often display mixed mineralogies where quartz-rich jasper veins have intruded into mafic volcanic host rocks before being smoothed by water.
Field identification & locations
Found commonly in stream beds, river gravel bars, and glacial till. Identify by its smooth water-worn shape, high hardness capable of scratching glass, and multicolored mottling.
More like this
