Kambaba Jasper

Kambaba Jasper is a striking green and black ornamental stone from Madagascar, best known for its distinctive rounded, swirling and eye-like patterns. Despite the familiar trade name, Kambaba Jasper is not technically a true Jasper. Mineralogical examination using thin-section analysis and X-ray diffraction has identified the material as a volcanic rhyolitic rock composed principally of Quartz, Aegirine pyroxene, Albite and potassium feldspar. The characteristic dark circles and swirls are made from extremely fine amphibole needles, with compositions ranging from minerals such as Riebeckite toward Pargasite. Kambaba Jasper has also been widely marketed as a fossil stromatolite formed from ancient cyanobacteria or algae. This explanation became extremely common within the crystal trade, but modern mineralogical testing does not support it. The analysed Madagascan material is igneous in origin rather than a fossil-bearing sedimentary rock. The name Kambaba Jasper therefore remains useful as a well-established commercial and searchable name, while a more geological description would be Kambaba Rhyolite or Crocodile Jasper. Its combination of deep forest green, olive and almost black orbicular patterns makes it especially popular for polished spheres, towers, palmstones, cabochons and decorative carvings.