metamorphic

Polished tiger’s-eye

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

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 6.5–7; golden-brown bands with silky luster and chatoyancy (a moving, eye-like sheen). It has a trigonal quartz crystal structure, though the polished piece’s crystals are not visible.

Identified October 5, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when fibrous crocidolite is replaced by silica while retaining its structure; iron compounds create the golden-brown color. This alteration is associated with ancient metamorphic rocks, notably the roughly 2.0-billion-year-old deposits of South Africa’s Cape Province.

Uses & applications

Commonly cut as cabochons and polished carvings for jewelry and decorative objects; not generally used as a construction stone.

Geological facts

Its shifting, cat’s-eye-like band of light is called chatoyancy and results from aligned fibrous structures.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by golden-brown parallel bands and a silky sheen that shifts as the stone or light moves; major sources include South Africa, Australia, India, and Namibia.