Rock Identifier
Tiger's Eye (Silicon Dioxide with Crocidolite inclusions (SiO2)) — gemstone
gemstone

Tiger's Eye

Silicon Dioxide with Crocidolite inclusions (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden to brown color, silky luster, and a fibrous crystal structure showing chatoyancy.

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Physical properties

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden to brown color, silky luster, and a fibrous crystal structure showing chatoyancy.

Formation & geological history

Formed when quartz pseudomorphs over crocidolite asbestos fibers, typically in ancient metamorphic environments.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry, decorative carvings, and as a popular collector's mineral specimen.

Geological facts

The characteristic shimmering cat-eye effect is caused by parallel intergrown quartz crystals and altered amphibole fibers.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its distinctive golden-brown stripes and silky reflection when moved in the light; commonly sourced from South Africa and Australia.