Brecciated Jasper

A gorgeous multi coloured form of Jasper – typically with a rich earthy red colour as the base and ‘cracks’ or patches of white, black, or brown.

Brecciation refers to rocks consisting of broken fragments of older rocks, cemented in a matrix – meaning Brecciated Jasper is made up of fragmented Jasper pieces, often with patches of various other minerals – often Quartz, Chalcedony, or other colours of Jasper.

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Information about Brecciated Jasper

Brecciated jasper is a striking variety of jasper composed of angular fragments of red, brown, or tan jasper cemented together by a fine-grained matrix, often white, gray, or black.

This brecciated structure gives the stone a mosaic-like appearance, with intricate veins and contrasting colors.

The red hues are due to iron inclusions, while the stone’s patterns often include swirls or streaks, enhancing its visual appeal. It is typically opaque and polished for decorative use.

 

Uses and History

Brecciated jasper is widely used in jewellery, carvings, and ornamental objects due to its durability and vibrant patterns. Its primary use is as a decorative stone.

 

Mineralogy

Chemistry
SiO2 with varying impurities and inclusions.
Colours and Variations

Most commonly red, brown, beige, offwhite, grey, black but can be yellows, ochre and other earth tone colours.

Streak
White
Luster
Various
Transparency
Opaque
Fracture
Conchoidal, typically.
Crystal habit
Conchoidal, typically.
Mohs hardness
6.5 – 7.0
Fluorescence
Potentially, but unlikely.
Specific Gravity
Varies, typically 2.6-2.7
Easiest testing method
Brecciated texture.

Hazards and Warnings

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis.

When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

 

Translations

‘Brecciated Jasper’ may not translate well, as ‘brecciated’ is a geological term and may not have a corresponding term in every language.

In some cases I considered using ‘cracked’ or ‘smashed’ but was getting results of crushed stone aggregate.

 

Arabic:

  • حجر اليشب المكسور

Hindi:

Portuguese:

  • jaspe brechado

Bengali:

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

  • Brecciated Jasper

Italian:

  • diaspro brecciato

Russian:

  • брекчиевидная яшма

French:

  • jaspe bréchique

Japanese:

Spanish:

  • jaspe brechado

German:

  • Brekzienjaspis

Korean:

Thai:

Gujurati:

Mandarin Chinese:

Urdu:

Further Reading / External Links