The facts
What leopard Skin Jasper actually is
The species behind leopard Skin Jasper is orbicular rhyolite with spherulitic rings in a fine volcanic groundmass - again a rhyolite rather than a true jasper, Silicified rhyolite: quartz, feldspar, with hematite, chlorite and epidote; it forms in the aggregate system.
Hematite and iron oxides for pink and tan rings, chlorite and epidote for green is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.54 (spot) and a specific gravity of about 2.55-2.70, with none cleavage.
Where leopard Skin Jasper comes from
Commercial material comes from Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico - the principal source and Guadalajara region, Jalisco, Mexico.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How leopard Skin Jasper is treated
Untreated; dyed imitations exist in bead strands. Cheap, abundant and heavily used in the bead trade. Occasionally the name is applied to unrelated Chinese and Indian rhyolites. Not CITES.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What leopard Skin Jasper is confused with
Watch for Ocean jasper, Rainforest jasper, Dalmatian stone and Dyed rhyolite beads — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.54 (spot) and specific gravity 2.55-2.70 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What leopard Skin Jasper is used for
The trades that buy leopard Skin Jasper are jewellery, decorative objects and carving and sculpture. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
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 6.5-7; cleavage none. 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 leopard Skin Jasper costs
Expect roughly $2-8 per kilogram rough; bead strands $3-20; cabochons $5-30, depending on quality.
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 leopard Skin Jasper treated, and how?
Untreated; dyed imitations exist in bead strands. Cheap, abundant and heavily used in the bead trade. Occasionally the name is applied to unrelated Chinese and Indian rhyolites. Not CITES.
Where does leopard Skin Jasper come from?
Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico - the principal source and Guadalajara region, Jalisco, Mexico. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is leopard Skin Jasper hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5-7 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 leopard Skin Jasper cost?
Indicatively $2-8 per kilogram rough; bead strands $3-20; cabochons $5-30. 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 leopard Skin Jasper confused with?
Most often Ocean jasper, Rainforest jasper, Dalmatian stone and Dyed rhyolite beads. A refractive index of 1.54 (spot) and a specific gravity near 2.55-2.70 separate it quickly.
What is leopard Skin Jasper 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 leopard skin jasper?
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 leopard skin jasper