sedimentary

Jasper and Quartz Breccia

Silicified Breccia (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Brownish-red to dark brown with white to translucent quartz veining. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal structure: Microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.60 - 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified August 7, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through tectonic fracturing or faulting of rock masses, followed by the infiltration and cementation of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids that precipitate quartz to fill the voids and fractures over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in lapidary arts, making cabochons, polished decorative stones, and as mineral specimens for rock and crystal collectors.

Geological facts

Breccias are fragmental rocks consisting of angular blocks cemented in a finer-grained matrix. The sharp, angular clasts in this specimen indicate very little transport before cementation occurred.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its distinct angular fragments (clasts) contrasting sharply with the matrix or veining material. Found globally in fault zones and hydrothermal vein systems. Collectors look for high contrast between the host rock and filling minerals.

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