Mookaite

Huge boulders of 'mookaite' lining the driveway at Outback Mining, Wundowie east of Perth. The company mines this colourful rock created by radiolaria, a fossilised microscopic animal. These died in their millions in prehistoric oceans, got covered by mud, and opalised into these rocks. 'Mookaite' is a marketing term, the name coming from Mooka ...

Purchased from the Perth Mineral Show. Looking like an abstract geometric piece of art. It has been cut and polished. 12cm x 9cm x 5cm This specimen was stolen in 2014.

Mookaite how it is naturally found. Most seen are slabbed and polished. 12 cm x 9cm x 5cm

Slabbed and polished. This is typical of the material from Mooka Station, showing reds, yellows and white. Black and purple also occur in the species. Purchased from the Perth Mineral Show. Large. 27cm x 8cm x 4cm

Bags of mookaite ready for export to China, at Outback Mining's base east of Perth. The material is mined from the Kennedy Range, in northern Western Australia. There was so much small rock strewn around the place, I joked with owner (Glenn Archer) that he should sell the property to the local council who could open it up as a fossicking site.

Brecciated mookaite. It is found at the same location as mookaite but deeper underground. Polished one side (pictured) and smooth cut but un-polished on the other. Facinating mix of tan, cream, browns, and maroon mookaite with transparent opal. 18cm x 16cm x 1cm

The black mineral is hard (about 5.5) and produces a dark red streak typical of hematite. The brown mineral stain on some surfaces adjoining the hematite may be from goethite.