Golden Jasper is an opaque, microcrystalline variety of quartz characterized by rich mustard-yellow and golden-brown hues often featuring intricate banding or mottling. It is a highly durable material popular in lapidary for cabochons and decorative carvings due to its ability to take a high polish. Collectors typically find it in sedimentary deposits where silica-rich fluids have replaced or filled voids in host rock.

Hardness

6.5-7

Mohs

Luster

Waxy

Streak

White

Transparency

Opaque

mineralcommonQuartz family

Golden Jasper

Hardness: 6.5-7
Luster: Waxy
Streak: White
Transparency: Opaque

Is this golden jasper?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch golden jasper with a known reference. Golden Jasper sits at Mohs 6.5-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Golden Jasper leaves a white streak.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Golden Jasper typically shows a waxy luster.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: yellow, gold, brown, mustard.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive.

Often confused with

Golden Jasper vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside golden jasper

Minerals reported to co-occur with golden 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
Colors: Yellow Gold Brown Mustard
Streak: White
Luster: Waxy
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Massive
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Common
Uses: Lapidary, Decorative, Collector
Host rock: Sedimentary
Typical price: $5-50 for slabs or polished cabochons

Where rockhounds find golden jasper

1 mapped spots

Classic worldwide localities

Madagascar
USA
Egypt
India

Field-hunting tip

Look in sedimentary country, the host setting where golden 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 Tennessee. Start trip planning there.

Browse 1 U.S. spots for golden jasper →

More golden jasper photos

Common questions

How do you identify golden jasper?+

Mohs hardness is 6.5-7. It typically shows a waxy luster. The streak is white. Common colors include yellow, gold, brown, mustard.

Where is golden jasper found?+

Notable localities include Madagascar; USA; Egypt; India.

Can I find golden jasper in the United States?+

RockHoundR maps 1 golden jasper rockhounding spots across 1 U.S. states. The top states are Tennessee.

How much is golden jasper worth?+

Typical asking prices fall in the range of $5-50 for slabs or polished cabochons. Quality, size, and provenance can move individual specimens well outside that range.

What rocks look like golden jasper?+

Golden Jasper is most often confused with Flint Nodules, Agate, Chalcedony. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with golden jasper?+

Golden Jasper commonly co-occurs with Quartz, Chalcedony, Hematite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does golden jasper form in?+

Golden Jasper typically forms in sedimentary. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is golden jasper used for?+

Golden Jasper is used in lapidary, decorative, collector.

Find golden jasper on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.