“ ... "mariposa" is Spanish for "butterfly." ... this agate/jasper had resemblance to a butterfly. ... (It) appeared on the market in the early 1960's under the name "Mariposa Agate" and was from the state of Nayarit, Mexico. I would term this variety more of a jasper than an agate. It consisted of a brecciated dark green jasper with fragments of gold, yellow, pink, orange, gray, and white jasper. Much of this nodular material was elongated in shape, many times containing a "crease" down the middle. When slabbed or cut in cross-section, it was resemblant of a butterfly, thus the attachment of the name "Mariposa." ...”

posted from Brad Cross at the “Rock Net” of www.rockhound.com