sedimentary
Mookaite Jasper
Radiolarite (SiO2 with impurities)
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Red, yellow, cream, purple, and brown; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Specific gravity: 2.63-2.65
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Red, yellow, cream, purple, and brown
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Red, yellow, cream, purple, and brown; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Specific gravity: 2.63-2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed from the skeletal remains of radiolaria (microscopic marine organisms) deposited in shallow sea beds during the Cretaceous period, which then underwent silicification
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a gemstone for jewelry, lapidary carvings, and collected as decorative spheres or palm stones
Geological facts
The name 'Mookaite' is derived from Mooka Creek in Western Australia, which is the only place in the world where this specific variety of radiolarite is found
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive earthy color palette and opaque, chert-like appearance; look for 'brecciated' patterns where older rock has been cemented together by newer silica
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