RocksdayCarnelian vs Jasper
How to tell them apart
Translucent orange-red chalcedony colored by iron oxide.
Photo: Hyperdeath, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opaque, impurity-rich microcrystalline quartz. Iron oxides give the classic brick red, but jasper comes in nearly every earthy color and pattern.
Photo: Tommy from Arad, CC BY 2.0
Key differences
- Red jasper is opaque.
Side by side
| Property | Carnelian | Jasper |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 | 6.5–7 |
| Luster | Waxy to vitreous | Dull to waxy |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Orange, Red, Brown | Red, Brown, Yellow, Green |
| Crystal system | Microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony) | Microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony) |
| Specific gravity | 2.58–2.64 | 2.5–2.9 |
| Formula | SiO₂ | SiO₂ + impurities |
| Found in | India; Brazil | Oregon and Idaho; India |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify carnelian
- Glows orange-red when held up to light.
- Even color or soft cloudy banding.
- Waxy surface, hard enough to scratch glass.
Crystal system: Microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony)
Full Carnelian guide →How to identify jasper
- Completely opaque, even at thin edges.
- Solid earthy colors, often red, sometimes patterned.
- Hard — scratches glass.
- Smooth, curved fracture surfaces.
Crystal system: Microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony)
Full Jasper guide →More comparisons
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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