Some Striking Zebra Rock
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382036)
Rockingham, Australia
November 26, 2016 10:19pm CST
I found a photo which missed on being in my Coober Pedy, South Australia, slideshow so I thought I'd put it up here. It shows some little clocks made from zebra rock. I researched this stone. One site says it is only found around Kununurra in Western Australia but that isn't so. It also occurs in the opal fields in South Australia which is where we saw it. In the slideshow there are several examples in the foyer of the hotel.
Zebra rock has regular patterns or dark bands or sometimes spots contrasting with a white background. The jury is out on how zebra rock is formed. It seems patterns vary markedly as does the hardness and quality of the rock. The red colouring comes from ferric (iron) oxide. Some is very porous and chalky but mostly too soft to polish. The rock is sandpapered smooth and may b sprayed with clear lacquer to give a wet look to the piece. It is certainly a very attractive rock.
21 people like this
20 responses
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
27 Nov 16
@JudyEv I love to see rocks of different colours. We should ask someone who knows about how they happened to look that way.
1 person likes this
@Hate2Iron (15724)
• Canada
27 Nov 16
I have never seen anything like that... gorgeous!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 16
@CoralLevang I've just read a bit more about zebras and NET. Very interesting.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Dec 16
@CoralLevang Don't be sorry. Many of us are much too blase about our own good health.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36796)
• Philippines
27 Nov 16
Now I understand there are called as such. Because of the color patterns. I like the design.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
29 Nov 16
It is quite gorgeous, I am picturing countertops with the stone, would be eye-catching.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
28 Nov 16
oh my! i'd love to get my hands'n some'f those - minus the clocks, lol. i'm a confessed rock hound.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Nov 16
That is a very unusual and attractive rock.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 16
It's beautiful isn't it? Love the striped ones more so than the spots.
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Nov 16
It is loose where you can pick up some?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov 16
In WA, it occurs in reefs or parts or reefs of other sorts of rock. Sometimes the pattern can't be seen until the rock is split.
@teamfreak16 (43586)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Nov 16
I've never heard of Zebra rocks before. Really neat!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 16
I wish now that I'd bought a piece but I'm trying to declutter so I didn't really want to buy anything.
@snowy22315 (208859)
• United States
27 Nov 16
It is a unique kind of rock for sure. I need to try to get to Australia one of these days..I could visit with a friend of mine..but I have a feeling I would be fending him off the whole time..might not be very comfortable.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov 16
I guess you have to decide if the visit is worth the 'fending off'! 
@jstory07 (148730)
• Roseburg, Oregon
27 Nov 16
I really like those rocks they look really cook. Thanks for sharing.
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
27 Nov 16
I can imagine it would make really nice jewelry
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Nov 16
It's a beautiful rock. Elegant is a good name for it. No two alike.
