mineral

Red Jasper and Mookaite Jasper

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Iron Oxide inclusions

Hardness: 6.5 - 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Opaque dark brick red (red jasper) and purple/greyish-tan (mookaite/porcellanite jasper). Luster: Vitreous to waxy when polished. Crystal System: Microcrystalline Trigonal (Quartz group). Cleavage: None, fractures conchoidally. Specific Gravity: 2.58 - 2.91.

Hardness: 6
Luster: Vitreous to waxy when polished

Identified July 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids precipitate into cavities and sedimentary layers, incorporating iron oxide impurities that produce the deep red color. Mookaite forms specifically in altered radiolarian siltstone formations in Western Australia.

Uses & applications

Popular for lapidary work, cabochons, tumbled pocket stones, ornamental carvings, wire-wrapping jewelry, and energetic/crystal healing collections.

Geological facts

Red Jasper derives its rich crimson color from hematite (iron oxide) micro-inclusions. Mookaite jasper is named after Mooka Creek in the Kennedy Ranges of Western Australia, where it is uniquely mined.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its intense opacity, smooth waxy polish, strong hardness (will scratch steel and glass), and smooth conchoidal fracture edges. Found abundantly in Australia, South Africa, Brazil, India, and the United States.

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