sedimentary
Red Jasper with Quartz
Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2)
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, predominantly red and white in color due to iron oxide impurities and quartz banding, vitreous to dull luster, cryptocrystalline crystal structure, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, and a specific gravity of roughly 2.6 to 2.7.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, predominantly red and white in color due to iron oxide impurities and quartz banding, vitreous to dull luster, cryptocrystalline crystal structure, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, and a specific gravity of roughly 2.6 to 2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the hydrothermal deposition of silica-rich fluids or precipitation in marine sedimentary environments, often replacing organic material or filling fractures in host rock over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in lapidary arts, tumbled stones, cabochons for jewelry, decorative carvings, and collected as a mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Jasper has been prized since ancient times for talismans and seals; red varieties specifically were historically worn by warriors to increase courage and physical strength.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its opaque red coloration, waxy to dull luster, high hardness that scratches glass, and conchoidal fracture. Commonly found in regions with ancient volcanic or sedimentary activity such as India, Brazil, Russia, and the western United States.
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