mineral
Tiger's Eye
SiO2 with crocidolite inclusion
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden-brown to yellow-brown color with a silky chatoyant luster, and microcrystalline quartz crystal structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden-brown to yellow-brown color with a silky chatoyant luster, and microcrystalline quartz crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz pseudomorphs over asbestos crocidolite fibers through hydrothermal alteration, typically found in metamorphic environments.
Uses & applications
Used widely in ornamental jewelry, decorative carvings, and as a popular collectible gemstone.
Geological facts
The characteristic cat-eye effect, or chatoyancy, is caused by the parallel intergrowth of quartz crystals and altered amphibole fibers.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive shifting golden stripes when moved in the light; mined prominently in South Africa and Western Australia.
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