mineral
Tiger's Eye
Silicon dioxide with crocidolite inclusions (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden to brown color, silky luster, and a microcrystalline trigonal crystal structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden to brown color, silky luster, and a microcrystalline trigonal crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz pseudomorphically replaces the fibrous mineral crocidolite, typically in metamorphic environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used for ornamental jewelry, carved figurines, and as a popular specimen for mineral collectors.
Geological facts
It exhibits chatoyancy, an optical reflectance effect that creates a moving band of light resembling a cat's eye.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive golden stripes and silky sheen; commonly sourced from South Africa and Australia.
