Bruneau Canyon Jasper is a highly prized ornamental stone known for its distinctive orbicular patterns, often featuring concentric 'dots' or 'flowers' in warm, earthy tones. It forms within rhyolite flows in southwestern Idaho and is primarily collected for its exceptional polish and complex, artistic lapidary patterns.
Is this bruneau canyon jasper?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch bruneau canyon jasper with a known reference. Bruneau Canyon Jasper sits at Mohs 6.5-7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bruneau Canyon Jasper leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bruneau Canyon Jasper typically shows a waxy to dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, cream, tan, red, gold.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Bruneau Canyon Jasper vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bruneau canyon jasper
Minerals reported to co-occur with bruneau canyon jasper. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5-7
- Density
- 2.58-2.91 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy to Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector
- Host rock
- Rhyolite
- Typical price
- $10-100 per pound of rough, $50-500+ for finished cabochons
Where rockhounds find bruneau canyon jasper
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Bruneau Canyon, Owyhee County, Idaho, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in rhyolite country — that is the host setting where bruneau canyon jasper typically forms. If you start seeing chalcedony, quartz, opal in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Idaho — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find bruneau canyon jasper on the map
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