sedimentary

Jasper and Quartz Breccia

Silicified Breccia / Microcrystalline Quartz with Iron Oxide

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; colors range from white, cream, and translucent quartz to reddish-brown jasper patches; vitreous to dull luster; cryptocrystalline crystal structure; no true cleavage; conchoidal fracture; specific gravity around 2.65.

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 of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids or groundwater that cemented the angular fragments (clasts) together with quartz and jasper.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in lapidary arts for cabochons, polished display specimens, and as a collector's mineral specimen.

Geological facts

Breccias are often indicators of ancient fault zones or impact structures. The red and brown colors in jasper are due to varying degrees of iron oxide (hematite or goethite) impurities within the silica matrix.

Field identification & locations

Look for angular fragments cemented by a different mineral matrix, typically resistant to weathering and found in stream beds or glacial outwash. Commonly found worldwide where faulting and hydrothermal activity have occurred.

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