Evergreen Jasper is an opaque, microcrystalline variety of quartz characterized by its rich, earthy green tones often featuring subtle veining or mottled patterns. It is primarily collected by lapidary enthusiasts for its ability to take a high polish and its versatility in creating decorative carvings and jewelry.
Is this evergreen 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 evergreen jasper with a known reference. Evergreen 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. Evergreen Jasper leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Evergreen Jasper typically shows a waxy to dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, dark green, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Evergreen Jasper vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy to dull on Evergreen Jasper and waxy on Flint Nodules.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy to dull on Evergreen Jasper and waxy on Chalcedony.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy to dull on Evergreen Jasper and vitreous on Aventurine.
Often found alongside evergreen jasper
Minerals reported to co-occur with evergreen 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
- 2.6-2.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy to Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Decorative, Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Environments and Volcanic Deposits
- Typical price
- $5-30 per slab or cabochon
Where rockhounds find evergreen jasper
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- USA
- Mexico
- Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary environments and volcanic deposits country — that is the host setting where evergreen jasper typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, chalcedony, hematite 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 Minnesota — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find evergreen jasper on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
