gemstone

Polished tiger’s-eye

Chatoyant quartz, chiefly fibrous quartz pseudomorph after crocidolite; SiO₂

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 6.5–7; brown, golden, and dark bands with silky chatoyancy, vitreous-to-waxy luster, microcrystalline quartz structure, and no obvious cleavage. The rounded, glossy surface indicates a tumbled or polished specimen.

Identified September 4, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when quartz replaces parallel crocidolite (riebeckite) fibers during hydrothermal alteration, commonly in iron-rich metamorphic rocks; major deposits are Proterozoic, especially in South Africa and Western Australia. Golden color results from oxidized iron, while blue-gray material is hawk’s-eye.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, ornamental objects, and inexpensive jewelry; it has little industrial value as a quartz aggregate.

Geological facts

Its moving light band is caused by reflection from aligned fibrous inclusions, an optical effect called chatoyancy. Dark areas may contain iron oxides or unaltered amphibole fibers.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by rotating the stone under light: a narrow, silky band should glide across the curved surface, unlike ordinary brown jasper. Common sources include South Africa, Australia, India, Brazil, and the United States.