sedimentary
Red Jasper with Quartz Veining
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Microcrystalline Quartz with Iron Oxide impurities (Hematite)
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Red to brownish-red with white/translucent banding; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.58–2.91
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Red to brownish-red with white/translucent banding
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Red to brownish-red with white/translucent banding; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.58–2.91
Formation & geological history
Formed through the infiltration of silica-rich fluids into cracks of existing rock (often volcanic or sedimentary) containing iron oxides. The white veining occurs later as quartz fills hydrothermal fractures. Most jasper dates from the Proterozoic to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for lapidary work, jewelry (cabochons, beads), decorative stone carvings, and as a popular specimen for rock tumbling and metaphysical collecting.
Geological facts
Jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony. The red color is specifically caused by inclusions of hematite (iron oxide). It was a favored gemstone in the ancient world, frequently used for cylinder seals in Mesopotamia.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its opaque red color, smoothness after being water-worn, and its ability to scratch glass. Commonly found in riverbeds and mountainous regions in the Western USA, Brazil, and South Africa. For collectors: look for sharp color contrast between the jasper and quartz.
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