mineral

Polished red jasper with quartz/chalcedony

Jasper (microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂), locally mixed with chalcedony or quartz

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; opaque brick-red areas with a gray-white, waxy-to-glassy band; cryptocrystalline structure, no visible cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and typical specific gravity near 2.6.

Identified September 12, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich groundwater fills cavities or replaces volcanic and sedimentary material, with iron oxides producing the red color. The exact age and locality cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Commonly cut and polished for cabochons, tumbled stones, beads, carvings, and decorative objects; jasper is also used as an ornamental stone and minor aggregate.

Geological facts

The red coloration is generally caused by hematite or other iron oxides. The specimen appears polished and may be a brecciated or banded jasper rather than a single uniform variety.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its opaque red body, gray-white silica zones, glassy polish, and lack of cleavage; it should resist scratching from a steel knife but not quartz. Common sources include India, Madagascar, Brazil, Australia, and the western United States.