mineral

Tiger’s-eye fragment

Chatoyant quartz, SiO₂, colored by oxidized crocidolite (riebeckite) fibers

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Brown-gold banding and silky chatoyancy are visible; quartz hardness is about 7 Mohs, with vitreous-to-silky luster, cryptocrystalline structure, and no prominent cleavage. The irregular piece appears raw or roughly cut.

Identified September 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when blue asbestos-like crocidolite fibers in quartz are altered to golden-brown iron oxides, commonly during metamorphism; major deposits are associated with Proterozoic rocks of South Africa and Western Australia.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, and ornamental objects; it is a popular inexpensive collector gemstone. It has little industrial value compared with ordinary quartz.

Geological facts

Tiger’s-eye is a member of the quartz family and exhibits chatoyancy, a reflected “cat’s-eye” band caused by aligned fibrous inclusions.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its golden-brown silky stripe that shifts with lighting and by its quartz-like hardness; distinguish it from glass or dyed chalcedony with a loupe and scratch testing. Common sources include South Africa, Australia, India, and Brazil.