6.1" Tall Polished Kambaba Bookends - Madagascar

This is an gorgeous pair of bookends made from kambaba jasper, collected from Madagascar. One side has been cut flat and polished to a glossy finish, while the opposite side has been left rough. The middle of the bookends have been lined with felt and the bottoms have round rubber "feet" to prevent scratching of the display surface.

Each bookend varies slightly in size, with one measuring 6.1" tall, 4.2" wide and 3.5" thick while the other is 6.1" tall, 4.3" wide and 4.5" thick. Together these bookends weigh just over 11 lbs.

Kambaba jasper and crocodile jasper are trade names for a greenish rhyolitic (volcanic) rock found in the west-central Bongolava region of Madagascar. It is full of blackish orbs consisting of small amphibole needles that some people say resemble amphibian eyes, hence the name "crocodile jasper". There is a common misconception that Kambaba Jasper is a stromatolite, but this is incorrect, since it is volcanic in origin. Despite the misconceptions, it is a beautiful decorative stone when polished.

Jasper is a term that can be applied to an opaque variety of chalcedony. The opaqueness is due to a higher concentration of impurities mixed with silica/quartz compared to other varieties of silica, such as quartz or agates. Like agate it may form in a wide variety of colors, and is often multi-colored. In most cases, jasper forms when silica-rich fluids permeate throughout a soft sediment or volcanic debris deposit. The fluids then crystallize around the particles/impurities, resulting in a cementation process. Most often, the impurities present determine the coloration of the deposit following solidification, but other factors can play a role in the color of what is now considered a jasper.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Quartz, Pyroxene & Alkali Feldspar Conglomerate
LOCATION
Madagascar
SIZE
6.1 x 4.2", up to 3.5" thick
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#132181