metamorphic

Polished tiger’s-eye-rich ironstone

Tiger’s eye (quartz, SiO₂) with limonite/goethite and iron-oxide bands

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 for quartz; golden-brown, yellow, and dark brown bands, vitreous to silky luster, opaque to translucent, with fibrous chatoyancy often visible as a moving sheen. Specific gravity is typically about 2.6–3.0 depending on iron content; no prominent cleavage.

Identified September 6, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when crocidolite asbestos fibers are pseudomorphed by quartz and later oxidized, producing golden tiger’s eye and brown iron oxides. Most commercial material comes from Precambrian rocks of South Africa and Western Australia.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, bookends, and ornamental polished specimens; attractive chatoyant pieces have modest gemstone value.

Geological facts

The golden sheen is caused by aligned fibers reflecting light, creating a cat’s-eye effect. The specimen appears heavily iron-rich and may include brecciated or jasper-like material rather than pure tiger’s eye.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by golden parallel or swirling bands, waxy-to-glassy polish, and chatoyancy when rotated under a point light; it is far harder than common yellow glass or resin. Common sources include South Africa, Australia, India, and Namibia.