mineral

Polished leopard jasper (orbicular or brecciated jasper)

Microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony), SiO₂, with iron-oxide and other mineral inclusions

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; opaque cream, brown, gray, and dark green-gray patterns with a waxy to dull luster. It is cryptocrystalline, lacks visible cleavage, and has a typical specific gravity near 2.6.

Identified August 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids cement or replace volcanic ash, breccia, or other sediments, with iron and manganese producing the mottling; age varies by deposit. The specimen is tumbled and polished, so its natural texture is smoothed.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, worry stones, and decorative objects; it has little industrial use beyond ornamental silica material.

Geological facts

Patterned jaspers are often marketed under trade names such as leopard jasper, rainforest jasper, or ocean jasper, though these names may overlap and are not always precise mineral classifications.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its opaque, irregular cream-and-brown pattern, glass-scratching hardness, and absence of translucent quartz banding or cleavage. Similar material occurs in Mexico, Madagascar, Indonesia, and the western United States.