7.9" Free-Standing, Polished Snakeskin Jasper - Australia

This is a vibrantly colored section of snakeskin jasper from Western Australia. It's been cut flat on one side and polished to a mirror like finish on one, revealing some very interesting banded patterns. One edge has been cut flat for presentation purposes

Snakeskin Jasper formed as seams of jaspillite in a banded iron formation called the "Weeli Wooli Formation" which is about 2.5 billion years old.

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
Chalcedony var. Jasper
LOCATION
Turee Creek Cattle Station, Pilbara Region, Western Australia
FORMATION
Weeli Wooli Formation
SIZE
7.9 x 6.9, up to 3.3" thick
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#133051