igneous
Tumbled amber jasper
Jasper, microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂), colored by iron oxides and dark mineral inclusions
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; opaque brown, honey-gold, black, and reddish tones with a waxy to glassy polish. Cryptocrystalline quartz has no visible cleavage and a conchoidal fracture; specific gravity is approximately 2.5–2.7.
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Physical properties
Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; opaque brown, honey-gold, black, and reddish tones with a waxy to glassy polish. Cryptocrystalline quartz has no visible cleavage and a conchoidal fracture; specific gravity is approximately 2.5–2.7.
Formation & geological history
Jasper forms when silica-rich fluids replace or cement volcanic ash, sediment, or altered rock, with iron producing the warm colors. Formation ages vary widely, commonly Precambrian to younger; this specimen has been mechanically tumbled and polished.
Uses & applications
Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, decorative objects, and lapidary collections; occasionally used as an ornamental stone in small architectural applications.
Geological facts
The specimen’s brecciated-looking dark veining and opaque body favor jasper rather than translucent agate or quartz. “Amber jasper” is a commercial color description, not a separate mineral species.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its opaque body, earthy brown-gold patterning, strong polish, and inability to scratch with a fingernail or copper coin; common sources include India, Madagascar, Brazil, Indonesia, and the western United States.
