gemstone
Tiger's Eye
Quartz pseudomorph after crocidolite (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden-brown to yellow-brown color with a silky luster, and a microcrystalline quartz crystal structure with fibrous cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden-brown to yellow-brown color with a silky luster, and a microcrystalline quartz crystal structure with fibrous cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the replacement of fibrous crocidolite (riebeckite asbestos) by silica-rich solutions in metamorphic environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, and holistic collecting for its chatoyant optical effect.
Geological facts
The distinct shimmering effect, known as chatoyancy, is caused by parallel iron-stained quartz fibers reflecting light.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its fibrous golden-brown stripes and silky movement of light; found predominantly in South Africa and Western Australia.
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