mineral

Polished ocean jasper (orbicular jasper) cabochon

Silicified rhyolite/chalcedony, chiefly microcrystalline SiO₂; exact variety cannot be confirmed from the image

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque, polished teardrop cabochon with red, cream, yellow, and dark green-gray bands or patches; quartz hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs, vitreous to waxy luster, no visible cleavage. The pattern is consistent with jasper, but the image alone cannot establish its precise mineral composition.

Identified October 17, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Jasper forms when silica-rich fluids fill and replace volcanic rock or sediment; orbicular patterns may develop during silica deposition. Ocean jasper is associated with Oligocene volcanic rocks of Madagascar, roughly 23–34 million years old.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, pendants, beads, and lapidary collections; jasper is also used decoratively in carvings and ornamental objects.

Geological facts

“Ocean jasper” is a trade name for patterned jasper, not a formal mineral species. Genuine material marketed under this name is famously sourced from Madagascar’s northwest coast.

Field identification & locations

Look for an opaque, smoothly polished surface and natural, irregular color zoning; a scratch test is inappropriate for a finished cabochon. Similar multicolored jaspers and agates can look alike, so provenance is needed for a confident variety identification.