metamorphic
Tiger's Eye
Silicon dioxide with crocidolite inclusions (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness of 7, golden-brown to yellow-brown color with a silky chatoyant luster and a microcrystalline quartz structure.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 7, golden-brown to yellow-brown color with a silky chatoyant luster and a microcrystalline quartz structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed via the pseudomorphic replacement of crocidolite asbestos by silica under high pressure and temperature during regional metamorphism.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in cabochons for jewelry, ornamental carvings, beads, and as a popular collector mineral specimen.
Geological facts
The distinctive moving band of light, known as chatoyancy, results from parallel quartz fibers replacing the original fibrous riebeckite mineral.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its fibrous golden sheen and chatoyancy; commonly sourced from South Africa, Australia, and Western USA.
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