mineral

Tumbled jasper (likely polychrome or brecciated jasper)

Microcrystalline quartz/chalcedony, SiO₂, with iron-oxide impurities

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque, rounded and polished; mottled brown, ochre, cream, and reddish tones with earthy to vitreous luster. Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; cryptocrystalline quartz has no visible cleavage and typically specific gravity near 2.6.

Identified September 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich fluids replace or fill cavities in volcanic rocks, incorporating iron oxides and other impurities that create the patterns. Jasper deposits range from ancient Precambrian to younger volcanic environments; this specimen has been human-tumbled and polished.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, display stones, and lapidary items; occasionally as decorative aggregate. It has modest collector value unless the pattern or locality is exceptional.

Geological facts

Jasper is an opaque variety of chalcedony rather than a separately defined mineral species. Brown-and-cream material is often marketed as polychrome, picture, or brecciated jasper depending on its exact pattern and origin.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its opacity, waxy/vitreous polish, quartz-like hardness, and resistance to scratching by steel; it should not fizz in dilute hydrochloric acid. Common sources include volcanic regions of Madagascar, India, Brazil, Mexico, and the western United States.