mineral
Tiger's Eye
Silicon Dioxide (Quartz pseudomorph after crocidolite), $SiO_2$
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors range from golden-brown to yellow-brown with characteristic chatoyancy (silky luster), trigonal crystal system, indistinct cleavage, and a specific gravity of around 2.64 to 2.71.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors range from golden-brown to yellow-brown with characteristic chatoyancy (silky luster), trigonal crystal system, indistinct cleavage, and a specific gravity of around 2.64 to 2.71.
Formation & geological history
Formed as a pseudomorph when quartz replaces the original fibrous mineral crocidolite (riebeckite), preserving its fibrous structure over millions of years through hydrothermal processes.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, decorative items, beads, cabochons, and as a popular specimen for collectors due to its shimmering chatoyant bands.
Geological facts
Tiger's eye is famous for its distinct optical illusion called chatoyancy, where the stone appears to change its brightness or pattern depending on the viewing angle, mimicking a tiger's eye.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its golden-brown color and distinctive silky line of light that moves across the surface when turned. Commonly sourced from South Africa, Western Australia, India, and the USA.
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