igneous

Dalmatian Stone

Dalmatian Jasper / Feldspathic Igneous Rock

Hardness: 5.5 to 7.0 (Mohs scale); Color: Creamy white or light gray base with distinct black or dark brown spots; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.6 – 2.7.

Hardness: 5
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified March 25, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Dalmatian Stone is an igneous rock formed from magma cooling within the Earth. The base is primarily composed of white to gray feldspar and quartz, while the black spots are crystals of the amphibole Mineral Arfvedsonite. It is primarily found in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Uses & applications

Predominantly used for ornamental purposes, including beads, cabochons, carved figurines, and decorative tumbled stones. It is popular in jewelry due to its unique aesthetic and ability to take a high polish.

Geological facts

Although frequently marketed as 'Dalmatian Jasper,' it is geologically not a jasper because it lacks the high silica content of true jasper. It is actually a porphyritic igneous rock. The black spots were long thought to be tourmaline, but recent studies have identified them as the complex silicate Arfvedsonite.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinctive black-on-tan spotted pattern resembling a Dalmatian dog's coat. Collectors can identify it in the field by its lack of translucency and the characteristic dark inclusions embedded in a feldspar matrix. It is almost exclusively sourced from the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.

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Blue Apatite

Fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F)

mineral

Dark Igneous Rock (Likely Basalt or Diabase)

Basalt (extrusive igneous rock) or Diabase (intrusive igneous rock - also known as Dolerite), largely composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene (augite), and sometimes olivine and amphibole. Exact mineralogy would require thin section analysis.

Igneous

Magnetite

Iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4)

mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite - Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

mineral

Blue Apatite

Apatite (Group), Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)

mineral

Magnetite

Magnetite (Fe3O4)

mineral