Autumn Jasper
Autumn Jasper is silicate (jasper), SiO2 with iron oxide impurities. In the hand, it rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and it runs moss green and rust red. Mottled patchwork of fall colors, green, rust, and mustard, in smooth opaque jasper, like a forest floor in October. Commercial material mainly from China and India.
The geology.
Autumn Jasper carries the formula SiO2 with iron oxide impurities. It belongs to the trigonal (cryptocrystalline) system. Its listing category is silicate (jasper).
It sits at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads vitreous on polish. Light behaviour is opaque. Specific gravity runs 2.58 to 2.91. The streak is white. It breaks with conchoidal fracture.
Mottled patchwork of fall colors, green, rust, and mustard, in smooth opaque jasper, like a forest floor in October.
It turns up mostly as tumbled, beads or palm stones.
The origins.
Commercial material mainly from China and India.
On value, the database notes: common and affordable.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, associated with gratitude, harvest, and contentment with cycles of change.
This is lore, and we label it as lore. The measurable facts are further up the page.
Spotting the real thing.
Mottled patchwork of fall colors, green, rust, and mustard, in smooth opaque jasper, like a forest floor in October.
Not faked; the name is a flexible trade label for mottled multicolor jasper.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Fancy jasper | Fancy jasper leans pastel green-lavender; autumn jasper runs warm rust-green-gold |
| Rainforest rhyolite | Rhyolite shows spherulite orbs and granular texture; autumn jasper is smooth mottling without orbs |
| Unakite | Unakite is a two-mineral granular rock in pink and pistachio; autumn jasper colors blend softly |
At-home tests.
A loupe and a window seat settle most questions about autumn jasper. No workshop required.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| Scratch check | Scratches glass (Mohs 6.5 to 7) |
| Acid check | No fizz with vinegar |
| By eye | Patchy multicolor mottle without banding or orbs |
Destructive tests belong to a gemologist, not a kitchen table. If a piece matters to you, pay for an appraisal before you take a file to it.
Care & handling.
At 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale it handles careful wear but scratches against quartz and dust. Store it separately and take rings off before rough work.
It breaks with conchoidal fracture, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Clean it by hand, dry it properly, and keep it away from ultrasonic cleaners and hot steam.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is SiO2 with iron oxide impurities. Crystal system: Trigonal (cryptocrystalline). Specific gravity: 2.58 to 2.91. Streak: White. Cleavage and fracture: Conchoidal fracture.
How it reaches the market
Commercial material mainly from China and India.
What it gets confused with
Fancy jasper: Fancy jasper leans pastel green-lavender; autumn jasper runs warm rust-green-gold. Rainforest rhyolite: Rhyolite shows spherulite orbs and granular texture; autumn jasper is smooth mottling without orbs. Unakite: Unakite is a two-mineral granular rock in pink and pistachio; autumn jasper colors blend softly.
What it is worth
Common and affordable.
Where buyers get caught
Not faked; the name is a flexible trade label for mottled multicolor jasper.
One more thing
Autumn jasper is a workhorse of the tumbled-stone bin, its palette comes from the same iron oxides that color real autumn leaves after chlorophyll fades.
An education-first guide.
We do not stock autumn jasper. Writing it up regardless is the point of a reference library.
Explore the Crystal Guide