sedimentary

Mookaite Jasper

Silicified Radiolarite (SiO2)

Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Earthy tones including red, yellow, cream, and purple; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline (Trigonal); Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7.

Hardness: 6
Color: Earthy tones including red, yellow, cream, and purple
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified March 16, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the silicification of radiolarian oozes (skeletal remains of microscopic ocean organisms) during the Cretaceous period (approximately 66-145 million years ago) in marine environments.

Uses & applications

Primary use is in the lapidary arts for jewelry (cabochons, beads, wire-wrapped pendants), healing crystal collections, and ornamental carvings.

Geological facts

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

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinctive opaque, multi-colored 'painterly' patterns and high polish. It is exclusively found in the Windalia Radiolarite formation near the Kennedy Ranges in Gascoyne, Western Australia. Collectors should look for vibrant mustard yellow and deep maroon contrasts.