gemstone

Tiger's Eye

Silicon Dioxide (Quartz pseudomorph after crocidolite)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Golden-brown, yellow-brown, with bands of dark brown or black; Luster: Silky to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline quartz); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.64-2.71

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Luster: Silky to vitreous

Identified August 1, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when quartz perpetually replaces the original mineral crocidolite (blue asbestos) while retaining its fibrous structure, typically occurring in metamorphic environments.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, beads, and as a popular collector's specimen.

Geological facts

Tiger's eye exhibits chatoyancy, an optical reflectance effect resembling the slit eye of a tiger, caused by the parallel arrangement of quartz fibers.

Field identification & locations

Easily identifiable by its distinctive golden-brown stripes and silky chatoyant sheen. Commonly mined in South Africa, Western Australia, and the USA.