mineral
Tiger's Eye
SiO2 (Quartz pseudomorph after crocidolite)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Golden to red-brown, with silky luster and distinct chatoyancy (cat's-eye effect). Hexagonal crystal system (microcrystalline).
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Golden to red-brown, with silky luster and distinct chatoyancy (cat's-eye effect). Hexagonal crystal system (microcrystalline).
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz replaces fibrous blue crocidolite (asbestos) amphibole minerals through a process called pseudomorphism, retaining the fibrous structure that causes chatoyancy.
Uses & applications
Popular gemstone used for jewelry, beads, cabochons, carvings, decorative polished stones, and ornamental items.
Geological facts
The chatoyant effect seen in Tiger's Eye is caused by parallel intergrowths of quartz crystals and altered amphibole fibers that reflect light in a silky band.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive golden-brown banded color and shimmering chatoyant luster when polished. Commonly found in South Africa, Australia, India, and Brazil.
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