mineral
Tiger's Eye
Silicified Crocidolite (SiO2 with Na2Fe3+2Fe2+3(Si8O22)(OH)2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden-brown to yellow-brown color with a silky luster. Displays chatoyancy, a moving band of reflected light caused by parallel fibrous structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden-brown to yellow-brown color with a silky luster. Displays chatoyancy, a moving band of reflected light caused by parallel fibrous structure.
Formation & geological history
Forms when quartz iteratively replaces fibrous crocidolite (riebeckite) asbestos through silica-rich hydrothermal solutions. Found globally in ancient metamorphic and sedimentary environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, beads, and metaphysical healing practices.
Geological facts
The distinctive golden chatoyancy is an optical illusion known as the cat's-eye effect. It is a pseudomorph of quartz after asbestos.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its distinct golden-yellow stripes and silky luster. Major deposits are found in South Africa and Western Australia.
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