mineral

Polished red jasper

Jasper, an opaque microcrystalline variety of quartz (SiO₂), colored mainly by iron oxides

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; brick-red to rusty red with gray-blue matrix patches, opaque, glassy to waxy luster, and no visible cleavage. Dense, cryptocrystalline quartz with conchoidal fracture when broken.

Identified September 15, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich groundwater replaces or cements volcanic ash, sediments, or cavities, with iron producing the red color; specimens may range from Precambrian to younger geologic ages. This example is tumbled and polished.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, worry stones, and ornamental objects; durable but generally a modest-value gemstone material.

Geological facts

Jasper is a variety of chalcedony-related microcrystalline quartz, though its abundant impurities make it opaque. Blue-gray areas may reflect silica-rich or altered volcanic matrix.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its opaque red body color, irregular gray matrix, high polish, and lack of cleavage; it should not scratch easily with a steel knife. Common sources include India, Madagascar, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, and the western United States.