Rock Identifier
Pink Zebra Jasper (Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2)) — sedimentary
sedimentary

Pink Zebra Jasper

Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2)

Hardness: 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, Color: Pink with darker brown or maroon stripes/banding, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline aggregates), Cleavage: None, Specific gravity: 2.58 to 2.91

Hardness
6
Identified More sedimentary
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Physical properties

Hardness: 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, Color: Pink with darker brown or maroon stripes/banding, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline aggregates), Cleavage: None, Specific gravity: 2.58 to 2.91

Formation & geological history

Forms in sedimentary environments or volcanic hydrothermal settings where silica-rich fluids precipitate in cavities or fractures, often over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Commonly used for tumbled stones, cabochons, beads in jewelry making, ornamental carvings, and metaphysical practices.

Geological facts

Despite its common trade name, Pink Zebra Jasper is not a true jasper (which is typically opaque microcrystalline quartz with iron impurities) in the strict geological sense, but rather a banded microcrystalline quartz or sometimes a marble/feldspar composite depending on the exact source locality.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its distinctive pink coloration combined with contrasting darker linear patterns. Found worldwide, with significant deposits in India, Africa, and the United States. Easily recognized by its quartz hardness, conchoidal fracture, and inability to be scratched by a steel knife.