gemstone

Polished brecciated jasper

Microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂), commonly with iron-oxide and clay-mineral inclusions

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque, multicolored reddish-brown, gray, cream, and yellow material with a glassy-to-waxy polish; quartz hardness is about 6.5–7 Mohs, with no visible cleavage and irregular fracture. Its brecciated patches indicate fragments cemented by silica and iron oxides.

Identified August 30, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids cement fractured volcanic or sedimentary rock, often with hematite/goethite producing red and yellow colors. Jasper deposits range from Precambrian to much younger ages and occur worldwide.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, tumbled stones, beads, carvings, and decorative objects; rarely used as aggregate or ornamental stone. This small polished piece has modest collector value.

Geological facts

The specimen appears to be brecciated jasper, possibly a variety marketed as ocean, poppy, or mookaite jasper, though exact trade naming requires locality information. Jasper is a variety of chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz rather than a single mineral species.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its opacity, hardness, fine grain, colorful iron-stained patterns, and inability to scratch with a steel knife easily; it should not show distinct quartz crystals. Common sources include India, Madagascar, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and the western United States.