sedimentary
Red Jasper
SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide with Iron Oxide inclusions)
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Brick red to deep brownish-red; Luster: Vitreous to dull/waxy; Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline/Trigonal (Chalcedony family); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.91
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Brick red to deep brownish-red
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull/waxy
Identified More sedimentary →
Explore Red Jasper 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 deep brownish-red; Luster: Vitreous to dull/waxy; Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline/Trigonal (Chalcedony family); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.91
Formation & geological history
Formed when microcrystalline quartz aggregates precipitates within hydrothermal veins or sedimentary deposits, with red coloration caused by fine inclusions of iron oxides (hematite).
Uses & applications
Widely used for lapidary arts, cabochons, beads, ornamental carvings, polished tumbling stones, and metaphysical practices.
Geological facts
Red jasper has been used since antiquity in seals, amulets, and decorative items. In ancient Egypt, it was associated with the blood of Isis and carved into protective amulets.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive opaque brick-red color, smooth microcrystalline texture, dull-to-waxy luster, and high hardness (scratches glass). Common in river beds and gravel deposits worldwide, including the US, South Africa, and Brazil.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Sedimentary Sandstone
Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)
sedimentary
Fossiliferous Concretion
Septarian Concretion containing Brachiopods/Crinoids
fossil
Shale
Shale (clastic sedimentary rock)
sedimentary
Shale
Sedimentary Shale
sedimentary
Shale and Pebble Fragment
Sedimentary Rock (Mudstone/Shale with Silica Pebble)
sedimentary