mineral

Polished Tiger’s Eye

Quartz variety, primarily fibrous chalcedony with iron-rich inclusions; SiO₂

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically golden-brown to reddish-brown with silky chatoyancy (cat’s-eye banding), vitreous-to-waxy luster, hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs, no prominent cleavage, and specific gravity near 2.65. The pictured rounded, polished piece shows characteristic brown-gold bands.

Identified August 26, 2026More mineral →

Explore Polished Tiger’s Eye in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when crocidolite (blue asbestos) fibers are replaced by silica, with iron oxidation producing yellow and brown colors; commonly associated with Precambrian metamorphic rocks, especially in the approximately 2.0-billion-year-old deposits of South Africa.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, ornaments, and decorative stone; occasionally used in inexpensive jewelry and lapidary collections.

Geological facts

Its moving reflective band is caused by aligned fibers, producing chatoyancy when polished. Red varieties are called bull’s-eye or red tiger’s eye; blue material is hawk’s-eye.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its fibrous silky sheen, parallel bands, and strong light-dark reflection that shifts as the stone moves; common sources include South Africa, Australia, India, Brazil, and Namibia.