sedimentary
Red Jasper
Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; opaque red to reddish-brown color; waxy luster; trigonal crystal system with conchoidal fracture.
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; opaque red to reddish-brown color; waxy luster; trigonal crystal system with conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Forms via silica-rich precipitation in marine sediments or hydrothermal environments, often dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Widely used for ornamental carvings, cabochons, jewelry, and lapidary art.
Geological facts
Red jasper gets its vibrant color from iron oxide inclusions within the microcrystalline quartz matrix. It has been used for talismans and seals since ancient times.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its lack of cleavage, high hardness, and opaque red coloration; commonly found in riverbeds, hydrothermal veins, and sedimentary deposits globally.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Fossil-bearing concretion, possibly containing a fossil shell or other organic inclusion
Calcareous concretion; exact fossil and host-rock composition are not identifiable from the image
fossil
Fossiliferous Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary limestone with invertebrate fossil imprint
fossil
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite
sedimentary
Shale
Shale (clastic sedimentary rock)
sedimentary
Shale (or Mudstone/Siltstone)
Sedimentary Mudrock (SiO2, Al2O3 base with clay minerals)
sedimentary