sedimentary
Red Jasper (Skull Carving)
Jasper, a cryptocrystalline variety of Quartz (SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Deep brownish-red due to iron inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Deep brownish-red due to iron inclusions
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
Identified More sedimentary →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Deep brownish-red due to iron inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed through the deposition of silica in hydrothermal veins or sedimentary environments, where mineral-rich waters permeate volcanic ash or clay. Over millions of years, the silica solidifies into dense, opaque chalcedony.
Uses & applications
Used primarily for lapidary arts such as carvings (skulls, figurines), decorative jewelry, polished cabochons, and as a popular 'healing' stone in metaphysical communities.
Geological facts
Red Jasper has been used by ancient civilizations for thousands of years; it was known as the 'rain-bringer' in some Native American cultures and was used in the breastplate of the High Priest in Biblical times.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its opaque nature (unlike translucent carnelian), its high hardness (it will scratch glass), and its distinctive dull-to-waxy luster on unpolished surfaces. It is found globally, with major deposits in India, Brazil, and the USA.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (primarily SiO2)
sedimentary
Shale or Slaty Mudstone
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
sedimentary
Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
sedimentary
Sandstone (Quartz-rich)
Arenite (SiO2)
sedimentary
Sandstone (with man-made markings)
Arenite (composed primarily of Quartz, SiO2)
sedimentary