Mineral / Sedimentary
Jasper
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Highly variable, often red, brown, yellow, or green. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal structure: Cryptocrystalline (microcrystalline quartz). Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity: 2.5-2.9.
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Highly variable, often red, brown, yellow, or green
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Highly variable, often red, brown, yellow, or green. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal structure: Cryptocrystalline (microcrystalline quartz). Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity: 2.5-2.9.
Formation & geological history
Forms from the deposition of silica in sedimentary environments or as hydrothermal veins. The red color is typically due to iron inclusions.
Uses & applications
Often used as a gemstone in jewelry, carved into ornamental objects, and collected as a lapidary material.
Geological facts
Jasper has been used as a gemstone and ornamental stone for thousands of years. It was highly valued in antiquity.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its opacity, hardness, and often vivid coloration and patterns. Found worldwide, with notable deposits in the US, India, Russia, and Madagascar.
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