mineral

Polished red jasper

Jasper, microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂) colored chiefly by hematite/iron oxides

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque brick-red, fine-grained, and typically waxy to vitreous; Mohs hardness about 6.5–7, no visible cleavage, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity around 2.6. The cubic shape appears human-cut and polished.

Identified August 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids cement or replace sediments and volcanic material, with iron oxides producing the red color; deposits range from Precambrian to recent. Common sources include India, Madagascar, Brazil, South Africa, and the western United States.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, polished cubes, ornaments, and lapidary objects; occasionally used as decorative stone. It has little industrial value compared with ordinary quartz.

Geological facts

Jasper is a variety of chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz, though its high opacity and impurity content distinguish it from clearer agate. Hematite inclusions commonly create red, orange, or brown coloration.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its uniform opaque red color, fine texture, glassy/waxy polish, and resistance to scratching by a steel file; it should not fizz in dilute acid. The image alone cannot exclude dyed or resin-treated material.