metamorphic

Tiger's Eye

SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide - pseudomorph after riebeckite/crocidolite)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

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

Identified July 24, 2026More metamorphic →

Explore Tiger's Eye in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

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.