gemstone
Red Jasper / Carnelian Chalcedony
SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide with Iron Oxide inclusions)
Hardness: 6.5 - 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Deep red, crimson, to brownish-red. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Fracture: Conchoidal. Transparency: Translucent to opaque.
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Deep red, crimson, to brownish-red
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
Identified More gemstone →
Explore Red Jasper / Carnelian Chalcedony in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5 - 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Deep red, crimson, to brownish-red. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Fracture: Conchoidal. Transparency: Translucent to opaque.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich fluids deposit in cavities and fractures within sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic rocks, taking on red pigmentation from microcrystalline iron oxides (hematite/goethite).
Uses & applications
Used extensively in lapidary arts, jewelry (cabochons, beads), decorative carvings, and as a popular collectible gemstone.
Geological facts
Red silica minerals like carnelian and red jasper have been used for seal stones, signet rings, and amulets since the Bronze Age, widely prized by ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its rich red color, high hardness (scratches glass), smooth conchoidal fracture surfaces, and translucent to opaque body. Found worldwide in places like Madagascar, India, Brazil, and the USA.
More like this
Other gemstone specimens
Diamond and Gold Jewelry
Carbon (Diamond) / Au (Gold)
gemstone
Ammolite
Ammolite (Biogenic Aragonite with trace elements; fossils of Placenticeras meeki and Placenticeras intercalare)
mineral
Cubic Zirconia (simulant) or Diamond
ZrO2 (Cubic Zirconia) or C (Diamond)
gemstone
Black Opal Ring (Carved Opal)
Hydrated Silicon Dioxide (SiO2·nH2O)
gemstone
Red Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions
sedimentary
Cubic Zirconia (or possibly Diamond)
Zirconium dioxide (or Carbon)
gemstone