metamorphic

Polished tiger’s-eye

Tiger’s-eye quartz (fibrous chalcedony/quartz, SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 6.5–7 Mohs; brown to golden-brown bands with silky chatoyancy, vitreous-to-waxy luster, and no prominent cleavage. Its curved polished surface and fibrous banding produce the reflective cat’s-eye effect.

Identified September 2, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when crocidolite asbestos fibers were pseudomorphed and replaced by quartz during low-grade metamorphism, commonly in Precambrian iron-rich formations. Major deposits occur in South Africa, Western Australia, India, and Namibia.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, ornaments, and tumbled stones; it has little industrial use beyond decorative silica products.

Geological facts

The specimen appears polished or tumbled, and its golden-brown chatoyancy is characteristic of tiger’s-eye rather than ordinary brown jasper. Blue-gray hawk’s-eye and red-colored varieties are related forms.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by rotating the stone under directional light: a narrow luminous band should move across the surface, with parallel silky fibers and brown-gold bands. Natural tiger’s-eye is typically opaque and lacks the glassy transparency of quartz crystal.