Mookaite is a silicified porcelainite or radiolarite characterized by its vibrant, multicolored swirls of red, yellow, and cream. It is highly valued by lapidary artists for its ability to take a high polish and its unique, opaque, earthy aesthetic found exclusively in Western Australia.

Hardness

6.5-7

Mohs

Luster

Dull to Waxy

Streak

White

Transparency

Opaque

mineralcommonQuartz family

Mookaite

Hardness: 6.5-7
Luster: Dull to Waxy
Streak: White
Transparency: Opaque

Spotting mookaite in the field

Field marks

1
Mustard yellow, deep red, maroon and cream, often blended in one piece
2
Slightly softer feel than typical jasper, with occasional chalky zones
3
Opaque, with color boundaries that blur rather than band

Mookaite comes from the Mooka Creek area in the Kennedy Ranges of Western Australia, where it formed from silicified radiolarian sediments. It is a buying material for almost everyone outside Australia. Quality varies more than most named jaspers: good mookaite is dense and takes a hard polish, while poorer material has porous, chalky patches that never come up.

Straight answers

Is it worth cutting?: Test a corner before committing. Dense mookaite polishes to a glassy finish; the chalky zones will always look dull no matter how far you take the grit sequence.
What is it really worth?: Inexpensive and widely available. The premium is for solid, non-porous rough with strong red-to-yellow contrast.
Can you legally keep it?: Australian export of mineral specimens is regulated in some states. Buy from established suppliers.

Often confused with

Mookaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Picture Jasper

Mohs 6.5-7

How to tell apart: Picture jasper is layered in horizontal lines. Mookaite's colors blend and pool without linear structure.

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Often found alongside mookaite

Minerals reported to co-occur with mookaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: SiO₂
Mohs hardness: 6.5-7
Density: 2.6-2.7 g/cm³
Colors: Red Yellow Cream Pink White Maroon
Streak: White
Luster: Dull to Waxy
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Massive
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Common
Uses: Lapidary, Decorative, Collector
Host rock: Sedimentary
Typical price: $5-50 for rough slabs and cabochons

Where rockhounds find mookaite

Classic worldwide localities

Mooka Creek, Western Australia
Kennedy Ranges, Australia

Field-hunting tip

Look in sedimentary country, the host setting where mookaite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, chalcedony in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

More mookaite photos

Common questions

How do you identify mookaite?+

Mohs hardness is 6.5-7. It typically shows a dull to waxy luster. The streak is white. Common colors include red, yellow, cream, pink.

Where is mookaite found?+

Notable localities include Mooka Creek, Western Australia; Kennedy Ranges, Australia.

How much is mookaite worth?+

Typical asking prices fall in the range of $5-50 for rough slabs and cabochons. Quality, size, and provenance can move individual specimens well outside that range.

What rocks look like mookaite?+

Mookaite is most often confused with Picture Jasper. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with mookaite?+

Mookaite commonly co-occurs with Quartz, Chalcedony. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does mookaite form in?+

Mookaite typically forms in sedimentary. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is mookaite used for?+

Mookaite is used in lapidary, decorative, collector.

Find mookaite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.