mineral

Polished red jasper

Jasper, microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque reddish-brown to golden-brown, with earthy patterns and a resinous-to-glassy polish; Mohs hardness 6.5–7, no visible cleavage, cryptocrystalline structure, and specific gravity about 2.5–2.7.

Identified August 28, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Jasper forms when silica-rich fluids cement or replace sediments and volcanic material, with iron oxides producing the red and brown colors. It commonly forms in Precambrian to younger hydrothermal and sedimentary environments.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, carvings, beads, lapidary objects, and decorative stone; polished pieces are inexpensive but attractive collector specimens.

Geological facts

Jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz, unlike translucent agate. Its colors commonly reflect hematite, goethite, or other iron minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its opaque body, red-brown iron-rich coloration, very fine texture, and ability to take a strong polish; it commonly occurs in volcanic terrains and silica-rich sedimentary formations worldwide, including India, Madagascar, Brazil, and the United States.