Rock Identifier
Tumbled brecciated jasper (Microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂), with iron-oxide staining and darker volcanic/mineral fragments) — mineral
mineral

Tumbled brecciated jasper

Microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂), with iron-oxide staining and darker volcanic/mineral fragments

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically Mohs 6.5–7; opaque brown, black, gray, and orange, with a waxy to glassy polish and irregular brecciated pattern. Quartz is cryptocrystalline and lacks visible cleavage; density is about 2.6 g/cm³.

Identified More mineral
Explore Tumbled brecciated jasper in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

Physical properties

Typically Mohs 6.5–7; opaque brown, black, gray, and orange, with a waxy to glassy polish and irregular brecciated pattern. Quartz is cryptocrystalline and lacks visible cleavage; density is about 2.6 g/cm³.

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids cement fractured rock fragments, commonly in volcanic environments; iron oxides produce the orange-brown colors. Deposits may range from Paleozoic to Cenozoic, depending on locality.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, tumbled stones, and ornamental objects; it has limited industrial value compared with ordinary quartz.

Geological facts

The specimen’s angular color patches and iron-rich veins are characteristic of brecciated jasper rather than a single homogeneous mineral. Exact variety and locality cannot be confirmed from the photograph alone.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its opaque patterned body, quartz-like hardness, and resistance to scratching by steel; it should not show strong glassy transparency. Common sources include India, Madagascar, Brazil, Indonesia, and the western United States.