Old Ocean Jasper Slab
This is a special find, especially for Jasper/Ocean Jasper collectors; it is an "old stock" Ocean Jasper, meaning it is is from a high quality vein in Madagascar that is no longer being mined. It's very difficult to find this material nowadays, and the newer ocean jasper tends to have less vibrant color and less defined orbicular pattterning. This particular slab has layers upon layers of bright whites, deep greens, pops of orange and red, and some open crystallized "druzy" portions as well! Both sides have been high polished and the edges are left rough. The stand has been custom made for this piece. (Sold with stand)
Measurements in stand: ~10-3/4" wide x 12-1/2" tall x 3-3/4" wide
Slab Measurements: ~10-3/4" wide x 8-3/4" tall x 1/2" thick
Location: Madagascar
Jasper is an opaque stone originating from silica rich sediment or volcanic ash. It can occur in any color depending on the mineral content of the original sediment. Beautiful patterns can also occur in jasper. This happens when the original rock- forming materials are fractured or distorted in the ground, and then are later filled in with other minerals. A specific jasper may be named for its location, or may be named imaginatively by describing its unique appearance.
Ocean Jasper, (sometimes referred to as 'orbicular Jasper') is a mineral found in the African Island of Madagascar. The spherical / 'bullet-type' patterning displayed on this multi-colored stone is unlike any other.
Sometimes Ocean Jasper will also have pockets of microcrystalline quartz pockets, refered to as druzy quartz embedded within itself. On more rare occasions, the quartz will be not only just be in pockets, but also intermixed throughout the entire stone, giving the specimen a slight shimmer.