gemstone

Tiger's Eye

Quartz pseudomorph after crocidolite (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Golden-brown, yellow-brown, with bands of contrasting light; Luster: Silky to vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline quartz, pseudomorphous); Specific gravity: 2.64-2.71

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Golden-brown, yellow-brown, with bands of contrasting light
Luster: Silky to vitreous

Identified July 31, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed as a metamorphic replacement when quartz progressively replaces the blue asbestos mineral crocidolite, preserving its fibrous structure.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry, cabochons, beads, decorative carvings, and as a popular collector mineral.

Geological facts

Tiger's eye exhibits a distinct chatoyancy (cat's-eye effect) caused by the parallel fibrous structure of the original crocidolite crystals reflecting light.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its characteristic golden-brown stripes and silky chatoyancy. Primarily sourced from South Africa and Western Australia; finding it in North Carolina would indicate it was purchased or transported, as it is geologically foreign to the local sedimentary and metamorphic formations of the region.

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