mineral

Polished brecciated jasper

Jasper, microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂), with iron oxides and pale chalcedony/quartz veins

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

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.

Identified August 30, 2026More mineral →

Explore Polished brecciated jasper in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

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.