mineral

Red jasper (iron-rich chalcedony), possibly brecciated

Jasper: microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂, colored mainly by iron oxides/hydroxides

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque reddish-brown to yellow material with waxy to dull luster and irregular pale iron-rich patches; quartz hardness is about 6.5–7 Mohs, with no visible cleavage and a fine cryptocrystalline structure. The rounded surface suggests natural water wear or tumbling/polishing.

Identified August 10, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids fill fractures, cavities, or sediments and become colored by disseminated hematite and goethite; associated host-rock alteration may span Precambrian to younger geological ages. Common in volcanic and sedimentary terrains.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, polished stones, lapidary objects, and ornamental pieces; occasionally used as aggregate or decorative stone. Common specimens generally have modest monetary value.

Geological facts

Jasper is a variety of opaque chalcedony rather than a separate mineral species; red coloration usually reflects hematite. The cream and dark inclusions may indicate brecciation, matrix, or iron-oxide mineralization.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its opacity, red-brown iron staining, silica-like hardness, and inability to scratch with a steel nail easily; a streak test is usually pale rather than strongly red. Found worldwide, including India, Brazil, Madagascar, Australia, and the western United States.