gemstone

Polished tiger’s-eye cabochon

Quartz variety, primarily fibrous chalcedony with crocidolite pseudomorphs; SiO₂

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 6.5–7 Mohs; golden-brown to dark brown chatoyant bands, silky to vitreous luster, cryptocrystalline quartz, no obvious cleavage, specific gravity about 2.64–2.71. The image suggests a small polished, possibly drilled or shaped piece.

Identified September 8, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when blue asbestos-like crocidolite fibers are replaced by quartz during low-grade alteration, preserving fibrous structure and producing chatoyancy. Most gem-quality material is Precambrian and comes chiefly from South Africa, Western Australia, India, and Namibia.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochon jewelry, beads, carvings, worry stones, and ornamental objects; valued mainly for strong, centered chatoyancy and attractive color contrast.

Geological facts

Tiger’s-eye is a pseudomorph: quartz replaces fibrous riebeckite/crocidolite while retaining its texture. Blue-gray hawk’s-eye and reddish ox-eye are related varieties.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its silky moving band of reflected light, brown-gold parallel fibers, quartz-like hardness, and lack of metallic weight; glass or plastic imitations usually show weaker chatoyancy. Exact identification is limited by the image’s blur.