mineral

Red jasper (likely polished/tumbled)

Microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂, colored mainly by hematite/goethite

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque brick-red to orange-brown with black-gray veining or inclusions and a polished vitreous-to-waxy luster. Quartz hardness is about 6.5–7 Mohs; massive, cryptocrystalline, with no visible cleavage and specific gravity around 2.6.

Identified September 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids fill cavities or replace volcanic and sedimentary rocks, with iron oxides producing the red color. Deposits range from Precambrian to recent, commonly associated with volcanic terrains and hydrothermal systems.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, bookends, and decorative stone; rarely used as a minor aggregate or ornamental building material.

Geological facts

Jasper is a variety of chert distinguished by its opacity and abundant impurities. The black markings may be manganese oxides, magnetite, or host-rock inclusions, so exact variety cannot be confirmed from the image alone.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its opaque red color, fine texture, glassy polish, lack of cleavage, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; quartz or glass should scratch it. Common sources include India, Madagascar, Brazil, Australia, and the western United States.