mineral
Red Jasper (with Quartz)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Brick red to brownish-red with white or translucent quartz veins. Luster: Dull to waxy. Structure: Microcrystalline/cryptocrystalline (trigonal). Cleavage: None, conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 6
- Luster
- Dull to waxy
Identified More mineral →
Explore Red Jasper (with Quartz) 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: Brick red to brownish-red with white or translucent quartz veins. Luster: Dull to waxy. Structure: Microcrystalline/cryptocrystalline (trigonal). Cleavage: None, conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the deposition of silica-rich fluids in volcanic or sedimentary environments, where iron oxide (hematite) provides the red color. Typically found as river-worn pebbles or nodules.
Uses & applications
Used primarily for lapidary work, jewelry (cabochons), tumbled stones, and as a decorative stone in landscaping.
Geological facts
Jasper was a favorite gem in antiquity and is mentioned in the Bible as one of the stones in the breastplate of the High Priest. The red variety is specifically associated with grounding and strength in folklore.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its opacity (true jasper is opaque, but quartz veins are translucent), its inability to be scratched by a steel knife, and its smooth, water-worn texture in riverbeds.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Sandstone with Mineral Veining or Crust
Sedimentary Sandstone (mostly SiO2 with Fe2O3 tinting)
sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral
Gypsum (variety Selenite or Alabaster)
Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O)
Mineral
Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock