5.4" Polished Kambaba Jasper Freeform - Madagascar

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, however this is incorrect as 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 (light does not pass through it). The opaqueness is due to a higher concentration of impurities mixed with silica/quartz. Like agate it may form in a wide variety of colors, and is often multi-colored. In most cases, jasper will occur 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, however other factors can play a role in the color of what is now considered a jasper.