sedimentary

Red Jasper (with Quartz inclusion)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Iron Oxide impurities

Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: brick-red, maroon, and brown with white quartz; Luster: vitreous to waxy; Structure: microcrystalline (cryptocrystalline); Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.91

Hardness: 6
Color: brick-red, maroon, and brown with white quartz
Luster: vitreous to waxy

Identified July 21, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the accumulation of fine silica-rich volcanic ash or sediments that were later silicified. The red color is caused by the presence of iron oxide (hematite). This specimen appears to be water-worn, likely found in a riverbed or on a beach.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in jewelry, lapidary arts for cabochons and tumbled stones, ornamental carvings, and as a 'grounding stone' in metaphysical practices.

Geological facts

Jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony. It has been used for seals and amulets since ancient times in Mesopotamia and Egypt. The white patch in this specimen is a small pocket or vein of quartz crystal.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its opacity (even on thin edges), its characteristic 'brick red' color, and its smooth, waxy feel when polished. Frequently found in gravel pits or along shorelines where volcanic activity once occurred.

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