The facts
What dalmatian Stone actually is
Mineralogically, dalmatian Stone is quartz-feldspar porphyry - a fine-grained igneous rock with dark phenocrysts; not a jasper and not chalcedony — Alkali feldspar and quartz groundmass with black arfvedsonite or riebeckite phenocrysts (NOT tourmaline, as widely claimed), crystallising in the aggregate system.
The colour is caused by cream-white feldspar-quartz ground with black amphibole spots; the contrast is the whole appeal. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.54 approx. (spot), and the specific gravity sits near 2.60-2.75; cleavage is feldspar cleavage on fresh surfaces.
Where dalmatian Stone comes from
The recognised sources are Chihuahua, Mexico - the principal commercial source and Sonora, Mexico.
Origin affects price in this material, so we name the locality on every quote rather than the country. "African" or "Asian" tells a buyer nothing.
How dalmatian Stone is treated
Untreated, though bleached and dyed-black-spot imitations exist at the very bottom of the bead market. Two widespread errors worth correcting on a gemmology site: the black spots are alkali amphibole, not black tourmaline, and the rock is not jasper. Cheap and abundant. Not CITES.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What dalmatian Stone is confused with
The usual confusions are Leopard skin jasper, Snowflake obsidian, Howlite and magnesite with dark matrix and Dyed composites.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.54 approx. (spot) and specific gravity 2.60-2.75 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What dalmatian Stone is used for
Dalmatian Stone is bought by jewellery, decorative objects and carving and sculpture — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the piece or by the block.
Durability and care
Hardness 6-7; cleavage feldspar cleavage on fresh surfaces. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What dalmatian Stone costs
Indicative pricing for dalmatian Stone is $2-6 per kilogram rough; bead strands $3-15.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is dalmatian Stone treated, and how?
Untreated, though bleached and dyed-black-spot imitations exist at the very bottom of the bead market. Two widespread errors worth correcting on a gemmology site: the black spots are alkali amphibole, not black tourmaline, and the rock is not jasper. Cheap and abundant. Not CITES.
Where does dalmatian Stone come from?
Chihuahua, Mexico - the principal commercial source and Sonora, Mexico. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is dalmatian Stone hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6-7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does dalmatian Stone cost?
Indicatively $2-6 per kilogram rough; bead strands $3-15. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is dalmatian Stone confused with?
Most often Leopard skin jasper, Snowflake obsidian, Howlite and magnesite with dark matrix and Dyed composites. A refractive index of 1.54 approx. (spot) and a specific gravity near 2.60-2.75 separate it quickly.
What is dalmatian Stone used for besides jewellery?
decorative objects and carving and sculpture. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for dalmatian stone?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about dalmatian stone