metamorphic

Polished brecciated jasper

Jasper; microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂) with iron-oxide staining and dark mineral fragments

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; opaque brown, orange, black, and cream patterning; vitreous to waxy polish; cryptocrystalline quartz with no visible cleavage; specific gravity about 2.5–2.7. The angular dark and pale zones suggest brecciation and later silica cementation.

Identified September 12, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when silica-rich fluids cemented and replaced fractured volcanic or sedimentary material, with iron oxides producing the orange-brown colors. Jasper deposits range from Precambrian to younger volcanic terrains; the image shows a modern polished, tumbled specimen.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, palm stones, and ornamental objects; occasionally as a durable decorative stone. It is generally valued for pattern and polish rather than rarity.

Geological facts

Jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz, and “brecciated” describes its angular, cemented fragments. Color commonly reflects hematite, goethite, or other iron minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its opacity, quartz-like hardness, lack of cleavage, fine grain, and red-brown iron staining; it should scratch glass but not be scratched by a steel knife. Common in volcanic and hydrothermal regions worldwide, including India, Madagascar, Brazil, and the western United States.