sedimentary

Mookaite jasper

Mookaite (mookite), an iron-rich, silicified radiolarian sediment; chiefly microcrystalline quartz and chalcedony (SiO₂) with iron oxides

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque, polished stone with mottled red-brown, mustard-yellow, and cream patches; Mohs hardness about 6.5–7, vitreous to waxy luster, microcrystalline structure, and no visible cleavage. Specific gravity is typically around 2.6.

Identified October 13, 2026More sedimentary →

Explore Mookaite jasper in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms as silica-rich sediment becomes lithified and silicified, with iron compounds producing its colors. It comes from Cretaceous-age deposits near Mooka Creek in Western Australia, roughly 100–120 million years old.

Uses & applications

Used for beads, cabochons, carvings, and decorative objects; also collected as Australian jasper.

Geological facts

Despite the name “jasper,” mookaite is a trade name for a distinctive silicified sedimentary material associated with fossil-rich marine deposits.

Field identification & locations

Recognize it by opaque, earthy red, brown, yellow, and cream mottling in polished pieces; it is chiefly found around Mooka Creek, Western Australia. This palm-sized polished specimen would commonly retail for about $10–$40, depending on finish and quality.