metamorphic

Red jasper breccia

Jasper (microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂), brecciated and cemented by silica/iron oxides

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; opaque brick-red to pink with cream angular fragments, dull to subtly vitreous/waxy luster, and no visible cleavage. The specimen appears cut or naturally blocky and contains breccia clasts in a silica-rich matrix.

Identified September 21, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids cement fractured rock, with iron oxides producing the red color; related jasper deposits range from Precambrian to younger hydrothermal or volcanic settings. Exact age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, polished ornaments, and decorative stone; occasionally as aggregate or architectural accent. Common material has modest collector value.

Geological facts

The angular pale fragments distinguish brecciated jasper from uniform red jasper; some varieties grade into hematite-rich jasper or rhyolitic breccia.

Field identification & locations

Common in volcanic and hydrothermal terrains, including India, Madagascar, Brazil, Australia, and the western United States. Confirm with a streak test (white, gray, or faint reddish), lack of reaction to dilute acid, and scratch resistance near quartz; visual identification alone is not definitive.