From: http://www.rocksandminerals.com/specimens/moqui.htm

"SHAMAN STONES (MOQUI MARBLES) - These strange Ironstone concretions are found at the base of the Navajo Sandstone formation. The Moqui Indians that inhabited the Southwest used these small balls for marble-like games and in slings for hunting. The centers are filled with hard packed sandstone and the outer surface is a composite of iron, phosphorus, and lime. How they were formed and what caused their unusual rounded shapes remain a puzzle. There are various theories as to their formation and some scientists believe them to be from 130 to 155 million years old.

Their energies are somewhat like those of Boji Stones. Shaman Stones are highly protective, and will absorb negativity and replace it with useful energies. They are wonderful for healing, as their energies flow easily up the Chakra column. The first time I held one of these stones in my hand, I could not believe the energy I felt inside them! Meditations and spiritual journeys are greatly enhanced by holding a Shaman Stone in each hand. They may also be used to contact your animal spirits, totems, and guides, and to aid in shapeshifting. Shaman Stones are equally balanced between grounding and energizing, and act as a connector to the Earth's energies."

Don't remember where I got this:

"I recently received a note about Moqui Marbles from website visitor Dave Cosby, a geologist who has been doing some research on the area where Moqui Marbles are found in the US. Dave believes that the marbles were formed as the result of a meteor impact in the area. He wrote: "This material was formed in an impact site 12 miles east of Escalante UT in an area known as 'Big Spencer Flat'. The 'marbles' are composed of millions of molten spheres condensing on sand grains that bumped into and joined with other grains to form small spheres that joined with others to become even larger, with the hematite/silica coating always moving to the outside, but leaving a thin coat on most sand grains inside. Some larger spheres cooled below the melting point during this process, so all steps of it can be seen. Some 'marbles' landed in sand, others in limestone, and some have joined in almost every way imaginable. Most of the crater has eroded away, but the remnants of dikes created in the impact are still visible. "The principle collecting area is in the new Escalante Monument, but material was deposited on top of eroded Navajo Sandstone as far as Lake Powell. I have yet to determine if reports from Scofield Reservoir could be the same formation, or a different impact. I am sure the same process has produced 'Indian Paint Pots' in sandstones from many time frames all around the world, and are much like 'tektites.'"

From an auction on Ebay:

MOQUI MARBLE 42.0 GRAMS, Moqui Marbles are concretions of iron. They consist of an outer shell of hematite (iron oxide) with a center of sandstone. The sandstone center is often stained red and or yellow from iron oxides. Ocasionally there are additional rings of hematite in the center. Moqui marbles have been called by a lot of different names. They have been called moqui marbles, "moki" marbles, moko balls, ironstone concretions, Navaho cherries, indian marbles or balls, iron balls and a few others. Moqui marbles formed in the lower part of the Navaho Sandstone formation which is predomitaly found in souther Utah and northern Arizona. This part of the Navaho Sandstone formation was laid down approximately 190 million years ago at the very beginning of the Jurassic era. Although we know when and where they formed, and what they are formed from we do not have enough geological information to know exactly how they formed. Moqui marbles probably formed at a time when the original sand dunes that later became the Navaho Sandstone was under a sea.

The iron in the moqui marbles was probably originally in the form of Limonite, a hydrous ferric (iron) oxide. We do know that limonite will form a gel when under pressure. The sand in this formation ranged from 1000 to 2000 feet deep with a sea above that. This would have produced a tremendous amount of pressure. More than enough to cause the limonite to gel. We also know that heat will change limonite to hematite, which is a stable form of iron oxide. Limonite is not stable. We believe that what caused the moqui marbles to actually form was volcanic venting of hot gases. This would have caused bubbles to form in the gelitatious limonite. The volcanic gases would have also been hot enought to alter the limonite to hematite. Moqui marbles are found in areas where the Navaho Sandstone formation has nearly eroded away and is once again forming sand duens. After they weather out of the sandstone they are scoured, sanded smooth and eventually polished by the blowing sand. The shifting sand dunes probably bury and expose the moqui marbles many times during this sanding and polishing process. The moqui marbles are a genuine geological oddity. They are also of great interest to the people that study the metaphysical properties of rocks and minerals. You are bidding on the whole Moqui Marble on the right, the peice on the left is for example of inside only. SHIPPING & INSURANCE IS $1.55 IN THE USA. Save on shipping with multiple items. Moqui is sent the next day money order is received or 14 days after check is received. Please see my other auctions for GO...