mineral
Jasper (Red/Carnelian Agate)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Iron Oxide impurities
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, reddish-brown to deep orange color, waxy to vitreous luster, microcrystalline/cryptocrystalline structure, conchoidal fracture, no cleavage
Identified More mineral →
Explore Jasper (Red/Carnelian Agate) 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, reddish-brown to deep orange color, waxy to vitreous luster, microcrystalline/cryptocrystalline structure, conchoidal fracture, no cleavage
Formation & geological history
Formed when silica-rich fluids permeate volcanic rocks or sedimentary deposits, precipitating cryptocrystalline quartz alongside iron oxides (hematite or goethite) that impart the rich red coloring.
Uses & applications
Used widely in lapidary arts, jewelry making (cabochons, beads), decorative carvings, and as a popular collectible beach pebble or tumbled stone.
Geological facts
Red jasper and carnelian have been used for thousands of years as talismans and seal stones in ancient Egypt, Minoan Crete, and Rome, where they were believed to bestow courage and physical strength.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive reddish-brown color, opacity or slight translucency, smooth water-worn texture on beaches/rivers, and high hardness (scratches glass, resists steel). Frequently found along ocean beaches, riverbeds, and gravel bars.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Sandstone with Mineral Veining or Crust
Sedimentary Sandstone (mostly SiO2 with Fe2O3 tinting)
sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral
Gypsum (variety Selenite or Alabaster)
Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O)
Mineral
Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock