mineral
Polished red jasper with quartz/chalcedony
Jasper (microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂), locally mixed with chalcedony or quartz
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 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.
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Physical properties
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.
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.
