metamorphic
Tiger's Eye
SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide - pseudomorph after riebeckite/crocidolite)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Golden-yellow to golden-brown; Luster: Silky; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: ~2.64-2.71; Chatoyancy (cat's-eye effect)
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Golden-yellow to golden-brown
- Luster
- Silky
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Golden-yellow to golden-brown; Luster: Silky; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: ~2.64-2.71; Chatoyancy (cat's-eye effect)
Formation & geological history
Formed through a pseudomorphic metamorphic process where quartz replaces original fibrous crocidolite (blue asbestos) crystals while retaining their fibrous structure and iron oxides, creating the characteristic silky sheen.
Uses & applications
Popular gemstone used widely in jewelry (beads, cabochons, rings), ornamental carvings, tumbled stones for lapidary collectors, and decorative crafts.
Geological facts
Tiger's Eye displays a unique optical phenomenon called chatoyancy, caused by parallel fibrous quartz and iron oxides that reflect light in shifting bands as the stone is turned.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive golden-brown parallel banding and silky optical chatoyancy. Highly abundant in South Africa (Northern Cape Province), Australia, India, and Brazil.
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