Kabamby ocean jasper is often confused for kambaba jasper. The original deposit was exhausted by 2006. Ocean jasper was introduced to the world at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 2001.ДЄ total of seven deposits have been found so far but most if not all are now mined out. The stone was therefore extracted by hand before being taken by boat to the nearest large town. With the only access being by sea, large mechanical digging equipment could not be transported to the site. The remote location wasn't accessible by road and only became visible during low tide. Twenty two years later in 1999 the area where ocean jasper was found was finally rediscovered. It was published in a French encyclopaedia of minerals. Renewed interest in finding the deposit followed the publication in 1977 of a photo of a particularly striking stone. On a receipt dated 1927 associated with a stone owned by German mining engineer and mineral collector Richard Baldauf, ocean jasper was referred to as 'augenjaspis' meaning 'eye jasper'. There is some evidence to suggest ocean jasper from Kabamby was discovered earlier than the 1950's. It should have been documented as Kabamby which is a remote location on the north west coast.ДЇor this reason the stone was forgotten about and remained hidden until finally being rediscovered almost fifty years later. The deposit where kabamby ocean jasper was first documented to have been found in the 1950's was incorrectly recorded as Kabamba which is central Madagascar. In ocean jasper the spherulites sit between grains of chalcedony and quartz. The greyish white inclusions in snowflake obsidian are spherulites. They mostly occur in vitreous volcanic rocks. Cryptocrystalline means itsВ crystals are too small to be seen with the naked eye.ДЄ spherulite is a small rounded body often with a radiating structure made up of fibrous needle-shaped crystals. Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline variety of quartz. Ocean jasper is a registered trade name for what is now known to be a spherulitic chalcedony. Red comes from iron in the form of hematite, yellow or grey is clay and shades of brown tend to come from goethite. The colours are caused by various mineral inclusions. Stones can be found in many countries around the world but the variety correctly known as kabamby ocean jasper is unique to Madagascar. Orbicular jaspers are known for their orb-like or small spherical markings. It has long been described as a variety of orbicular jasper.ДЇound on the north west coast of the world's fourth largest island, the original material is now completely mined out. Ocean jasper is a rare and colourful material from Madagascar. Ocean Jasper Properties Facts and Photos Contents