sedimentary
Jasper and Quartz Breccia
Silicified Breccia (Quartz / Chalcedony / Hematite)
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, multicolored with dominant earthy tones of red, brown, white, and yellow, vitreous to dull luster, cryptocrystalline crystal structure, uneven fracture, specific gravity around 2.6 to 2.7.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, multicolored with dominant earthy tones of red, brown, white, and yellow, vitreous to dull luster, cryptocrystalline crystal structure, uneven fracture, specific gravity around 2.6 to 2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed through tectonic fracturing or faulting of pre-existing rock, followed by the circulation of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids that cemented the broken rock fragments (clasts) together with quartz and chalcedony.
Uses & applications
Used primarily for lapidary work, decorative carvings, ornamental stones, and tumbling by rock collectors.
Geological facts
Breccias are fragmental rocks consisting of angular blocks cemented in a finer-grained matrix, telling a dynamic story of geological faulting and seismic activity.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its angular, multicolored fragments tightly bound in a contrasting matrix, very common in fault zones and hydrothermal veins.
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