LARGE "ZEBRA" ROCK SPHERE. ...

Description

LARGE "ZEBRA" ROCK SPHERE
Argyle Station, Kununurra, East Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia
"Zebra" rock is a strange patterned silt stone (siliceous argillite) unique to the Ranford formation in Western Australia. It exhibits both random striped banding and "spots" of dark reddish brown against a light pink to cream background. The deposit is 600 million years old, placing it in the Upper Proterozoic era or Pre-Cambrian period. "Zebra" Rock is hard and very fine grained - its texture reminiscent of unglazed porcelain. The dark spots have the same texture as the light areas, and are colored by Hematite (iron oxide). The formation of "Zebra" rock's exotic patterning is a mystery. This very large "Zebra" rock sphere has been well polished and exhibits two prominent "bull's eyes" as well as banding and spots. It was fashioned by an Australian master sphere maker from Melbourne and measures 5 ¼ inches in diameter.

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