mineral

Tiger's Eye

Silicon Dioxide with inclusions (SiO2)

Hardness: 6.5–7 (Mohs scale); Color: Golden yellow to brown, often with multi-colored chatoyancy; Luster: Silky; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (hexagonal); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.64–2.71

Hardness: 6
Color: Golden yellow to brown, often with multi-colored chatoyancy
Luster: Silky

Identified June 22, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed as a pseudomorph where quartz replaces blue asbestos (crocidolite) fibers. Over time, the iron within the crocidolite oxidizes to a golden brown color while maintaining the fibrous structure.

Uses & applications

Predominantly used for semi-precious jewelry, ornamental carvings, beads, and as a popular specimen for crystal collectors.

Geological facts

Tiger's Eye displays a unique optical effect known as chatoyancy, or the 'cat-eye effect', caused by the reflection of light off the parallel mineral fibers within the quartz.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its distinctive silky luster and bands of golden-yellow light that appear to move when the stone is rotated. Primary locations include South Africa, Western Australia, USA, and Namibia.