mineral

Polished/tumbled jasper

Jasper, microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂) with iron-oxide and other mineral impurities

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically Mohs hardness 6.5–7; opaque, multicolored red, orange, cream, brown, and gray; waxy to vitreous luster. It is cryptocrystalline quartz with no visible cleavage and conchoidal fracture; density is about 2.5–2.7.

Identified August 10, 2026More mineral →

Explore Polished/tumbled jasper in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich groundwater replaces or fills cavities and fractures, incorporating iron oxides and other minerals that create the mottled colors. Deposits occur in many ages and volcanic or sedimentary terrains; this specimen has been shaped and polished.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, ornamental objects, and lapidary collections; occasionally used as decorative stone. Common polished pieces generally have modest commercial value.

Geological facts

Jasper is a variety of chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz, but its abundant impurities make it opaque rather than translucent. Color patterns are often used to assign trade names such as brecciated, ocean, or leopard jasper.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its opaque patterned surface, quartz-like hardness, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch glass only weakly or not at all depending on polish; it will not fizz in dilute acid. Common sources include India, Madagascar, Brazil, the United States, and Mexico.