mineral
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 trigonal crystal system with fibrous structure.
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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 trigonal crystal system with fibrous structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz gradually replaces the fibrous mineral crocidolite through hydrothermal alteration and oxidation, typically in Precambrian banded iron formations.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry making, carved ornaments, cabochons, and as a popular collector mineral specimen.
Geological facts
The distinct chatoyancy or cat's-eye effect is caused by the parallel arrangement of quartz fibers reflecting light.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its signature golden stripes and silky sheen, commonly mined in South Africa and Western Australia.
