mineral
Tiger’s-eye rough
Quartz with fibrous crocidolite-derived inclusions; SiO₂
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectGolden-brown with silky, chatoyant bands; Mohs hardness about 7, vitreous-to-silky luster, trigonal quartz structure, no prominent cleavage. The specimen appears rough and partly fractured; exact identification is visual.
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Physical properties
Golden-brown with silky, chatoyant bands; Mohs hardness about 7, vitreous-to-silky luster, trigonal quartz structure, no prominent cleavage. The specimen appears rough and partly fractured; exact identification is visual.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica replaces and preserves fibrous crocidolite during alteration, producing the characteristic golden chatoyancy. Commonly occurs in iron-rich, metamorphosed deposits, notably in South Africa; deposits are generally Precambrian in age.
Uses & applications
Cut and polished for cabochons, beads, carvings, and decorative objects; also collected as rough material.
Geological facts
Its moving, cat’s-eye-like sheen is called chatoyancy and is strongest when cut and polished across the fibrous structure.
Field identification & locations
Look for parallel golden-brown fibers and a band of reflected light that shifts as the stone moves; common sources include South Africa, Western Australia, and India. This piece is consistent with rough tiger’s-eye, though a photo cannot confirm it definitively.
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