sedimentary

Jasper with Quartz Vein

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: Reddish-brown, dark green, and white; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.9.

Hardness: 6
Color: Reddish-brown, dark green, and white
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified July 12, 2026More sedimentary →

Explore Jasper with Quartz Vein in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: Reddish-brown, dark green, and white; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.9.

Formation & geological history

Formed from the deposition of silica in mineral-rich water, typically in volcanic or sedimentary environments. The white veins represent secondary mineralization where quartz filled into fractures.

Uses & applications

Used for lapidary work, jewelry, stone carvings, ornaments, and as a popular specimen for collectors.

Geological facts

Jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony. The red coloration is usually caused by iron inclusions. It has been used for millennia to create seals and amulets.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its waxy-to-dull luster, opacity even at thin edges, and its hardness (it will scratch glass). Often found in riverbeds or coastal areas as water-worn cobbles.