sedimentary
Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) microcrystalline quartz
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, opaque luster, various colors including red, brown, green, yellow, and patterned, conchoidal fracture with no cleavage, specific gravity of 2.58 to 2.91.
Identified More sedimentary →
Explore Jasper 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, opaque luster, various colors including red, brown, green, yellow, and patterned, conchoidal fracture with no cleavage, specific gravity of 2.58 to 2.91.
Formation & geological history
Forms from the precipitation of silica-rich fluids in sedimentary environments, often involving ancient marine or volcanic processes over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in ornamental carvings, jewelry, lapidary art, and as a collector specimen.
Geological facts
Jasper has been used by ancient civilizations since the 4th millennium BC for making seals, drills, and jewelry.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its opaque appearance, waxy luster, and wide range of colorful natural patterns. Found globally in riverbeds, mountainous regions, and sedimentary deposits.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Fossiliferous Concretion
Septarian Concretion containing Brachiopods/Crinoids
fossil
Quartz pebble
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
sedimentary
Generic Pebble / Rock Fragment
Lithic fragment / Weathered rock
sedimentary
Banded Siltstone / Mudstone Pebble
Siltstone / Argillite
sedimentary
Sedimentary Sandstone
Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)
sedimentary