gemstone
Tiger's Eye
Quartz pseudomorph after crocidolite (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden to brown color with a silky chatoyant luster, and a microcrystalline quartz structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden to brown color with a silky chatoyant luster, and a microcrystalline quartz structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz gradually replaces the fibrous mineral crocidolite, preserving its chatoyant structure through metamorphic and hydrothermal processes.
Uses & applications
Widely used in cabochons, beaded jewelry, decorative carvings, and as a popular metaphysical or collectible specimen.
Geological facts
Tiger's eye exhibits chatoyancy, an optical reflectance effect resembling the slit eye of a cat, caused by parallel fibrous inclusions.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive golden-brown bands and moving silky light reflection; primarily sourced from South Africa and Australia.
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