Mineral
Pietersite
Silicolite (brecciated tiger's eye with hawk's eye)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Color: mixed blues, golds, reds, and browns. Luster: silky or vitreous. Crystal structure: trigonal. It exhibits chatoyancy (cat's eye effect).
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- mixed blues, golds, reds, and browns
- Luster
- silky or vitreous
Identified More mineral →
Explore Pietersite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Color: mixed blues, golds, reds, and browns. Luster: silky or vitreous. Crystal structure: trigonal. It exhibits chatoyancy (cat's eye effect).
Formation & geological history
Formed by the folding, faulting, and brecciation of tiger's eye and hawk's eye, which are pseudomorphs of quartz after crocidolite asbestos.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a gemstone in jewelry, especially for cabochons and pendants. Also a popular collector's stone.
Geological facts
Discovered by Sid Pieters in 1962 in Namibia. Sometimes referred to as the 'Tempest Stone' due to its stormy appearance.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its chaotic chatoyancy and swirling mix of colors. True pietersite is found mostly in Namibia and China.
