Jaspillite facts for kids

A sample of jaspilite rock from Minas Gerais, Brazil. You can see its distinct layers!

This map shows the Canadian Shield (the red areas) across parts of Canada and the northern United States.

Jaspillite, also spelled jaspilite, is a type of rock that forms in a special way. It's often full of iron. You might also hear it called jasper taconite.

What is Jaspillite?

Jaspillite is a rock made up of layers. These layers are usually a mix of two minerals:

• Hematite: This is a common iron mineral. It often gives rocks a reddish color.
• Quartz: This is a very common and hard mineral. It's found in many different rocks.

This rock forms in a similar way to chert, which is another type of hard, fine-grained rock. Jaspillite is considered a chemical rock. This means it forms when minerals separate from water and settle down, often in layers.

Where is Jaspillite Found?

Jaspillite is very common in ancient rocks called banded iron formations (BIFs). These BIFs are some of the oldest rocks on Earth! They formed during the Proterozoic and Archaean ages, which were billions of years ago.

One of the best places to find these rocks is in the Canadian Shield. This is a huge, very old part of North America's landmass. It covers much of eastern and central Canada and parts of the northern United States.

Jaspillite as a Sedimentary Rock

Jaspillite is also a type of sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks are formed from pieces of other rocks, minerals, or even living things that settle down over time. Jaspillite can sometimes be found near places where lead and zinc metals are mined.

Uses of Jaspillite

Because of its interesting colors and patterns, jaspillite is sometimes used as a gemstone. People polish it to make jewelry or decorative items.