igneous
Dalmatian Stone
Dalmatian Jasper (not a true jasper, typically an igneous perthite)
Hardness: 6.0-7.0 (Mohs); Color: White to cream background with black or brown spots; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- White to cream background with black or brown spots
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.0-7.0 (Mohs); Color: White to cream background with black or brown spots; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Monoclinic/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the cooling and solidification of molten rock (magma). The black spots are typically composed of the mineral Arfvedsonite. It is primarily found in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in the jewelry industry for beads, cabochons, and carvings. Also popular as a decorative stone for home decor and as a 'good luck' stone in collecting communities.
Geological facts
Despite its common trade name 'Dalmatian Jasper,' it is actually an igneous rock composed mainly of feldspar and quartz, rather than the chalcedony that defines true jasper. The spots were long thought to be tourmaline, but analysis shows they are amphibole minerals.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive 'dog-like' spotted appearance and the cream-colored feldspar matrix. It is almost exclusively mined in Mexico and is widely available in tumbled form for collectors.
