metamorphic

Polished tiger’s-eye

Quartz variety: fibrous chatoyant quartz, chiefly SiO₂, pseudomorphous after crocidolite

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; dark brown to golden-brown with silky chatoyancy, vitreous-to-waxy luster, and no obvious cleavage. The specimen appears polished and may include iron-oxide-rich bands or brecciation.

Identified September 14, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when blue asbestos (crocidolite) fibers are replaced by quartz and oxidized to limonite/hematite, commonly during low-grade metamorphism. Major deposits occur in Precambrian rocks of South Africa and Western Australia.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, carvings, beads, ornamental stones, and inexpensive collector specimens; it is not generally used as a construction stone.

Geological facts

Its moving cat’s-eye stripe results from aligned fibrous inclusions reflecting light. Golden tiger’s-eye is commonly intergrown with blue hawk’s-eye and red-brown iron-rich zones.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its polished silky bands and strong light-reflecting chatoyancy, unlike ordinary brown jasper. Common sources include South Africa, Western Australia, India, and Thailand.