Mookalite Natural Mineral from Windalia Radiolarite Formation Mookacreek western Australia
Size-
14.3cm x 9cm x 12.5cm
Weight-
1274g
You will receive the item in the photo
Mookaite is technically not a single mineral,but rather a biogenic fine-grained silicified porcellanite or radiolarite ( a sedimentary rock). It is made predominantly of cryptocrystalline to microcrystalline quartz (silica) and contains radiolarian microfossils.
Mineral class: belongs to the quartz group specifically as a variety of chalcedony or Jasper. Chemically it is composed of silicon dioxide mixed with impurities (like iron and magnesium) that gives it its distinct colours.
Crystal system: trigonal. Because mookaite is microcrystalline you won’t see large distinct visible crystals, instead the silica forms interlocking microscopic Quartz crystals.
Rock formation:
Origin- mookaite is formed from the accumulation of microscopic marine plankton, known as radiolarians. Their silica skeletons fell to the ocean floor during the Cretaceous period (roughly 145-66 million years ago) compacting into siliceous ooze.
The ooze underwent intense burial,compaction and silica dissolution. Later silica rich groundwater infiltrated the rock, hardening it into porcellanite,while iron and magnesium fluids added its trademark reds yellows and purples.
It also s found nowhere else on the earth exclusively surfacing near moons creek in the Kennedy ranges.
Hardness: 6.5-7.0 on the MOHs scale.
