Ocean Jasper

Ocean Jasper® is the trade name for this fascinating Orbicular Jasper, which is easily recognized by its distinct multi-colored orbicular patterns in vivid colors of browns, deep forest greens, and light-to-dark rusty red. Depending on the size of the stone and how it’s cut, one color may dominate—but most stones show multiple and very distinct colorations. Magnifications around the edges of the orbs (circular patterns), show concentric rings (agate banding), with translucent tiny quartz crystal (Druzy) borders that look like starbursts or flowers. The stone was discovered in 1999 in Madagascar by a Frenchman named Paul Obeniche and introduced to the general public at the 2000 Tucson Gem Show. The name "Ocean Jasper" was given to the stone by Obeniche and Eugene Mueller of the Gem Shop. By the standard definition the stone is an Agate—Agate being translucent and Jasper being opaque. But it is called a Jasper because its rhyolitic patterns have been associated with the opaque jasper category. Also "Jasper" is listed as the mineral resource in the mining lands owned by Obenich. The word "Ocean" came from where the deposit was found--by the edge of the sea, along the northwest coast of Madagascar. Because it was originally collected along the shoreline, many people believe all Ocean Jasper comes from the water. But the mines are actually underground.

Ocean Jasper is found only in Madagascar, in the Analalava district of the Sofia region in the former province of Mahajanga Near the village of Marovato. It was first discovered in two different mines that are about ten miles apart:

Stones from The Marovato Mine, which is directly on the shoreline, are formed naturally in a wide range of colors - resulting in unique geometric patterns where they touch one another.
This mine is currently exhausted, which explains why the most vivid multicolor stones are so hard to find—and more costly. The name "Marovato" means "many stones" in Malagasy. Miriam’s Private Collection still includes strands of this outstanding stone.
Another mining area was later discovered near the village of Kabamby, about a mile and a half inland. The name “Kabamby” does not translate into anything else in Malagasy.
Kabamby Ocean Jasper is dark green and golden yellow, but sometimes found in mauve and pink, red, and off white. It was first mined in 2002 and continues to be collected today. The same claim produces other stones too, the best known being Ocean Wave Jasper. It has a similar color palette to "Ocean Jasper" but lacks orbs, displaying wavy bands instead. It was mined from 2002 to 2006. Alas, Miriam is still looking for good strands of cut Ocean Wave Jasper stones!