mineral
Tiger's Eye
Quartz with riebeckite inclusions (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden to brown color with a chatoyant (silky) luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity of 2.64-2.71.
Identified More mineral →
Explore Tiger's Eye in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, golden to brown color with a chatoyant (silky) luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity of 2.64-2.71.
Formation & geological history
Formed as a pseudomorph of quartz replacing the original mineral crocidolite through low-temperature hydrothermal alteration and oxidation, typically found in metamorphic environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry making, ornamental carvings, beads, and as a popular tumbled stone for collectors and metaphysical practices.
Geological facts
Tiger's eye exhibits a distinct optical phenomenon called chatoyancy or cat's-eye effect, caused by the parallel fibrous structure of the material reflecting light.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its golden-brown stripes and silky moving band of light when rotated. Major deposits are found in South Africa, Australia, India, and the USA.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Soil with Mineral Detritus and Quartz Fragments
Regolith / Silicate Mineral Aggregate
sedimentary
Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)
FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)
mineral
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral