O is for Outstanding Orepuki White Orbicular Jasper

This is a slight expansion of my letter “O” contribution to the current Alphabetical Series in the Facebook Group “New Zealand Lapidary, Rocks, Minerals, Fossils”. In the 2021 version of this Series I posted “O is for Opaque Orepuki Orbicular Jasper” which featured a different type of orbicular jasper, a hematite poppy jasper.

O is for Outstanding Orepuki White Orbicular Jasper

White orbed jasper, Gemstone Beach.

Other side of white orbed jasper.

I found this small stone on Gemstone Beach, Orepuki, in March this year. This Post describes the fossick during which it was found, and it includes some information on orbicular jaspers. This Post shows the stone after tumble polishing. It is the only white orbicular jasper I have found on the Te Waewae Bay coast so far, with the red orbed poppy jasper more common. GeologyScience states: “Orbicular patterns form due to the presence of various mineral impurities or inclusions within the silica solution. These impurities can include minerals such as hematite, goethite, chlorite, or other oxides and hydroxides, which crystallize in concentric layers around a nucleus or central point, giving rise to the orb-like structures.” The orbs in orbicular jasper can consist of concentric circles, spherical shapes, or irregular spots, and can vary widely in size, colour, and arrangement. “A Selective Annotated Index to Poppy Jaspers in TumbleStone Blog” lists Posts that contain stones displaying this diversity.

The next Post in this Series is “P is for Pink”. An Index for this Alphabetical Series is here.

Author: tumblestoneblog

Retired Academic, male, living in the New Zealand countryside near Whanganui with his wife as well as Jasper the dog, Fluffy the cat, Dancer and Penny, the horses, and a shed half-full of stones. Email john.tumblestone@gmail.com. View all posts by tumblestoneblog