sedimentary
Mookaite Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Radiolarite
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Colors include deep red, burgundy, mustard yellow, cream, and white. Luster is vitreous to earthy. Trigonal crystal system (microcrystalline). Conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 6
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Colors include deep red, burgundy, mustard yellow, cream, and white. Luster is vitreous to earthy. Trigonal crystal system (microcrystalline). Conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed as a sedimentary rock composed of the silicified remains of radiolaria (microscopic marine organisms). These deposits accumulated in the shallow basins of the Windalia Radiolarite in Western Australia during the Cretaceous period.
Uses & applications
Primary use is lapidary work including cabochons, beads, and decorative carvings or spheres. Highly valued by collectors for its vibrant earthy colors and used in metaphysical practices.
Geological facts
Mookaite is found only in the Kennedy Ranges of Western Australia near Mooka Creek. The name 'Mooka' is an Aboriginal word meaning 'running waters'. It is technically a silicified porcellanite.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive combination of red and yellow hues and its smooth, porcelain-like texture even when unpolished. It is frequently found in creek beds and as nodules in weathered radiolarite.
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