Crystalline Orbicular Quartz with Chlorite Inclusions, aka Trade name "Ocean Jasper"
Marovato, Sofia, Madagascar
10.12 cm x 7.55 cm x 4.55 cm, 337.7 grams
Here is a very unique and interesting specimen of this material that has long since been mined out.
Known as "Ocean Jasper", this is not a Jasper at all. It is a Crystalline Orbicular Quartz with Chlorite Inclusions.
There were 2 known deposits of this very unique quartz formation material. One deposit had material that most are familiar with in the lapidary world as cab grade material. The locations could only be accessed during low tide along the coast.
The lapidary material had large orbicular areas of differing colors, that gave not only an ocean like coloring, but also floral patterns, giving this material a very unique look.
Some recovered piece, such as this one, were too crystalline to be used for lapidary cabs, so most were discarded.
However some were kept and made it into the market. This is one very fine and large example.
It looks to be made up of quarts "florets" that range in diameter from 3 mm up to 13 mm.
Overall a beautiful and larger than average, well crystallized specimen of this material that was last mined in 2006.
