metamorphic
Tumbled red jasper with a quartz vein
Jasper (microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂), likely crossed by milky quartz
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectTypically Mohs hardness 6.5–7, opaque, reddish-brown from iron oxides, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and no visible cleavage. The pale linear vein is likely quartz or chalcedony; the smooth shape is human-tumbled and polished.
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Physical properties
Typically Mohs hardness 6.5–7, opaque, reddish-brown from iron oxides, with a vitreous-to-waxy luster and no visible cleavage. The pale linear vein is likely quartz or chalcedony; the smooth shape is human-tumbled and polished.
Formation & geological history
Jasper forms when silica-rich fluids replace or cement volcanic, sedimentary, or hydrothermal material, with iron producing the red color; the specimen’s exact geological age and locality cannot be determined visually. The white vein formed later in a fracture.
Uses & applications
Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, lapidary pieces, and inexpensive decorative objects; it has minor ornamental and collecting value rather than major industrial importance.
Geological facts
Jasper is a dense variety of cryptocrystalline quartz and may show brecciation, banding, or contrasting mineral veins. Red coloration commonly reflects hematite or other iron oxides.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its opaque red body, glassy polish, hardness, and inability to scratch with a steel knife easily; quartz veins are common in jasper. Common sources include India, Madagascar, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, and the United States.
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