mineral
Tiger's Eye (Pendant)
Quartz Pseudomorph (SiO2) after Crocidolite
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; lustrous golden-brown to yellow-brown color; silky/chatoyant luster; trigonal crystal structure (microcrystalline quartz); fibrous texture; no cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; lustrous golden-brown to yellow-brown color; silky/chatoyant luster; trigonal crystal structure (microcrystalline quartz); fibrous texture; no cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphic replacement of fibrous crocidolite asbestos by silica quartz over millions of years, maintaining the fibrous structure that produces chatoyancy.
Uses & applications
Used widely in lapidary arts, jewelry (pendants, beads, cabochons), carvings, and ornamental crafts.
Geological facts
Exhibits a optical effect called chatoyancy (cat's eye effect) caused by parallel micro-fibers within the quartz reflecting light.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its characteristic golden-yellow-brown silky chatoyant stripes. Major sources include South Africa, Australia, India, and Brazil.
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