metamorphic
Polished banded jasper (likely red-and-gray jasper)
Microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂), commonly termed jasper; exact variety cannot be confirmed from the photo
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectOpaque, polished pebble with red and gray-green bands; quartz-rich, Mohs hardness about 6.5–7, vitreous to waxy luster, no visible cleavage. The banding may reflect iron-oxide-rich layers.
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Physical properties
Opaque, polished pebble with red and gray-green bands; quartz-rich, Mohs hardness about 6.5–7, vitreous to waxy luster, no visible cleavage. The banding may reflect iron-oxide-rich layers.
Formation & geological history
Jasper forms when silica-rich material fills or replaces sediment and is colored by iron oxides; later geological alteration can preserve or intensify its bands. Its age and precise formation setting cannot be determined visually.
Uses & applications
Used for beads, cabochons, ornaments, and lapidary collecting; not typically an industrial stone.
Geological facts
Jasper is a variety of chert, and its colors and patterns arise from impurities and layered deposition or replacement.
Field identification & locations
Look for an opaque, fine-grained surface with no visible crystals and hardness sufficient to resist scratching by a steel knife; red coloration commonly comes from hematite. Jasper occurs worldwide, but the specific locality of this pebble is unknown.
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