sedimentary

Mookaite Jasper

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with impurities

Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Red, yellow, mustard, cream, brown, and burgundy; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline (Trigonal); Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7

Hardness: 6
Color: Red, yellow, mustard, cream, brown, and burgundy
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified April 4, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Mookaite is a silicified porcellanite or radiolarite formed during the Cretaceous period (approx. 145 to 66 million years ago). It formed as the skeletal remains of radiolaria (microscopic marine organisms) settled in shallow sea beds and were later replaced by silica-rich groundwater.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry as cabochons, beads, and carvings. It is also highly valued by mineral collectors for its vibrant patterns and is used in ornamental items and metaphysical practices.

Geological facts

Mookaite is named after Mooka Creek in the Kennedy Ranges of Western Australia, which is the only place in the world where it is mined. The word 'Mooka' is an Aboriginal word meaning 'running waters'.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its distinct mustard-yellow and maroon-red earthy colors and its smooth, porcelain-like texture when fractured. It is found exclusively in the Carnarvon Basin of Western Australia.

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