metamorphic

Polished leopard-skin jasper (orbicular jasper)

Silicified microcrystalline quartz/chalcedony, commonly with iron-oxide and manganese-oxide inclusions

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; opaque black, olive, brown, and cream mottling with a glassy to waxy polish. Massive, non-cleavable cryptocrystalline quartz; specific gravity about 2.6.

Identified September 15, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; opaque black, olive, brown, and cream mottling with a glassy to waxy polish. Massive, non-cleavable cryptocrystalline quartz; specific gravity about 2.6.

Formation & geological history

Formed when silica-rich fluids replaced or cemented volcanic and sedimentary material, preserving orbicular or brecciated patterns; generally Paleozoic to Cenozoic depending on locality. The shown piece is shaped and polished.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, and decorative tumbled stones; valued mainly as an ornamental lapidary material.

Geological facts

“Leopard jasper” is a trade name rather than a single precisely defined mineral species; patterns arise from contrasting silica-rich zones and iron/manganese minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its opaque black-and-gold/cream pattern, very fine texture, lack of visible individual crystals, and resistance to scratching by steel. Common sources include Mexico, Madagascar, Indonesia, and parts of the western United States.