sedimentary
Mookaite Jasper
Mookaite (Silicified radiolarite, SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7. Color: Ochre, burgundy, white, mustard yellow, and cream. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal Structure: Cryptocrystalline. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Ochre, burgundy, white, mustard yellow, and cream
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7. Color: Ochre, burgundy, white, mustard yellow, and cream. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal Structure: Cryptocrystalline. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed during the Cretaceous Period (approx. 66-145 million years ago) from the skeletal remains of radiolaria (microscopic marine organisms) that were deposited in shallow sea beds and later silicified.
Uses & applications
Highly prized for lapidary work, including cabochons, beads, carvings, and polished spheres. Also popular as a healing stone in metaphysical communities.
Geological facts
Mookaite is found only in one location in the world: the Kennedy Ranges of Western Australia, along Mooka Creek. The name 'Mooka' is an Aboriginal word meaning 'running waters'.
Field identification & locations
Identifiable by its distinctive earthy color palette and porcelain-like feel. In the field, look for a dense, cherty rock with opaque bands of color often embedded in a lighter 'kaolin' matrix.
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