mineral
Polished brecciated jasper
Jasper, microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂), with iron oxides and pale chalcedony/quartz veins
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectOpaque reddish-brown to orange, vitreous-to-waxy luster, irregular breccia-like pattern with cream quartz/chalcedony patches; hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs, no visible cleavage, cryptocrystalline structure, specific gravity roughly 2.5–2.7.
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Physical properties
Opaque reddish-brown to orange, vitreous-to-waxy luster, irregular breccia-like pattern with cream quartz/chalcedony patches; hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs, no visible cleavage, cryptocrystalline structure, specific gravity roughly 2.5–2.7.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich fluids cement and replace fractured volcanic or sedimentary material, with iron producing the red-brown color. Its exact geological age cannot be determined from the photograph; deposits range from Precambrian to younger volcanic settings.
Uses & applications
Commonly cut and polished for cabochons, tumbled stones, carvings, ornaments, and collector specimens; generally unsuitable for major construction because it occurs as decorative material.
Geological facts
The specimen appears wet or highly polished, intensifying its color and luster. Jasper is technically an opaque variety of chalcedony/microcrystalline quartz, and brecciation gives it its fragmented appearance.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its opaque red-brown body, cream quartz/chalcedony seams, conchoidal-to-uneven fracture, and resistance to scratching by steel; common sources include India, Madagascar, Brazil, Indonesia, and the western United States.
