sedimentary
Red Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Brick red to brownish red; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.91.
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Brick red to brownish red
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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 (Mohs scale); Color: Brick red to brownish red; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.91.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation of fine silica (volcanic ash or radiolarian ooze) and iron oxides that provide its red color, often occurring as nodules or in cracks during low-temperature hydrothermal processes.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in lapidary art for cabochons, beads, ornaments, and as a decorative stone in jewelry and small carvings.
Geological facts
Jasper was a favorite gem in the ancient world; its name can be traced back in Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek, and Latin. Red Jasper is considered a 'stone of endurance' in metaphysical circles.
Field identification & locations
Look for a microcrystalline texture that doesn't show light passing through it (opaque) even at thin edges. It is common in riverbeds and ancient sediment deposits globally, notably in India, Brazil, and the USA.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Cone-in-cone structure (Limestone)
Cone-in-cone structure (Secondary Sedimentary Structure)
sedimentary
Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
sedimentary
Sandstone Grain
Clastic Sedimentary Rock Grain (SiO2 dominated)
sedimentary
Shale or Slaty Mudstone
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (primarily SiO2)
sedimentary