One of the more unusual stones I use in my designs is Mookaite. It takes its name from, and is found exclusively near Mooka Creek in the Kennedy Ranges of Western Australia.
Mookaite is formed from the fossilised remains of tiny marine organisms called radiolaria. These single-celled plankton have silica-based skeletal structures, often intricate and spiny.
They drift with ocean currents, and over millions of years, their silica-rich remains settled on the ancient seafloor, compacting into what is scientifically known as the Windalia Radiolarite, the formation where mookaite is found.
Mookaite is known for its striking colour range of ochre, burgundy, pink, mustard, cream and deep red. These variations are created by differing concentrations of iron oxide and hydroxide granules. The stone shows smooth transitions between hues, which creates wonderful painterly patterns.