Kiwi Jasper
Quartz/feldspar aggregate (SiO2 with amazonite and tourmaline)
A speckled green-and-black stone resembling kiwi fruit, technically a quartz-amazonite aggregate rather than true jasper.
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Color
- Pale green and white with black speckles
- Type
- mineral
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Overview
Kiwi Jasper is a trade name for a speckled pale-green and white stone dotted with black flecks that resemble the seeds of a kiwi fruit. Despite the name, it is not a classic iron-stained jasper: it is generally an aggregate of quartz with green amazonite (a feldspar) and black tourmaline or other dark mineral inclusions.
The playful kiwi-fruit appearance makes it a popular, affordable bead material. It is closely related to (and sometimes sold interchangeably with) "Sesame Jasper."
It is an opaque, fine-grained rock that takes a good polish, valued mainly for its distinctive speckled look.
Formation & geology
Kiwi Jasper forms as a mixed quartz-feldspar aggregate in which microcrystalline quartz hosts pale green amazonite and scattered crystals of black tourmaline (schorl) or magnetite. These minerals crystallized together in silica- and feldspar-rich host rock.
The green tint comes from the amazonite feldspar (colored by trace lead and water), while the black speckles are the tourmaline or other dark inclusions. Because it is a trade-named aggregate, it is sourced from several quartz-feldspar deposits rather than one classic jasper mine.
How to identify it
Look for a pale, soft green-and-white body peppered evenly with small black spots, mimicking kiwi fruit. Hardness is roughly 6-7; streak is white. Polished luster is glassy to slightly granular because of the mixed minerals.
The combination of mint-green amazonite background and black tourmaline flecks distinguishes it from true red/brown jasper. It can resemble Dalmatian Stone, but that is white with black spots rather than green. Even, saturated color may indicate dyeing in cheaper material.
Uses & significance
Kiwi Jasper is used mainly for beads, bracelets, malas, and tumbled stones, prized for its cheerful, fruit-like speckling. It is inexpensive and widely available.
Metaphysically it is marketed as a calming, balancing stone combining amazonite's soothing reputation with tourmaline's grounding associations. Its real value is decorative, as an attractive and affordable speckled material.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kiwi Jasper a real jasper?
Not strictly. It is usually a quartz-amazonite-tourmaline aggregate sold under a jasper trade name rather than a true iron-stained jasper.
What makes the black spots in Kiwi Jasper?
They are inclusions of black tourmaline (schorl) or similar dark minerals scattered through the stone.
Is Kiwi Jasper the same as Sesame Jasper?
They are closely related speckled stones and are sometimes sold interchangeably under both names.
Is Kiwi Jasper dyed?
Genuine material gets its green from amazonite, but some inexpensive pieces may be color-enhanced, so check for unnaturally uniform color.
Kiwi Jasper guides
In-depth guides for identifying, valuing, and understanding Kiwi Jasper.
