sedimentary
Jasper Pebble
SiO2 (Microcrystalline Quartz)
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to yellowish-brown exterior matrix with reddish-purple jasper inclusions; Luster: Dull to waxy; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.91.
- Hardness
- 6
- Luster
- Dull to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to yellowish-brown exterior matrix with reddish-purple jasper inclusions; Luster: Dull to waxy; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.91.
Formation & geological history
Formed as microcrystalline quartz precipitated in silica-rich fluids within sedimentary or volcanic environments, later weathered, eroded, and stream-rounded in a riverbed.
Uses & applications
Tumbling, lapidary art, decorative gravel, and amateur rock collecting.
Geological facts
River pebbles often hide colorful interiors like red or pink jasper beneath a weathered outer cortex, which only reveals its vibrant patterns when wet, cut, or broken.
Field identification & locations
Look for rounded, smooth stream-worn pebbles with distinct patches of opaque, colorful mineral veins like red or reddish-purple jasper. Found frequently in gravel bars along rivers and streams.
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