metamorphic

Tiger’s eye

Quartz variety, primarily fibrous microcrystalline SiO₂ with iron-oxide inclusions

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 6.5–7; golden-brown to dark brown bands, vitreous-to-silky luster, opaque, with chatoyant fibers and no prominent cleavage. The specimen appears polished or tumbled and may include darker brown iron-rich zones.

Identified August 16, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when crocidolite asbestos fibers are pseudomorphed by quartz, with oxidation producing golden-brown limonite/goethite. Commercial material is especially associated with Proterozoic rocks of South Africa and Western Australia.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, pendants, and ornamental objects; polished pieces are popular inexpensive gemstones and collector specimens.

Geological facts

Its moving cat’s-eye sheen is called chatoyancy and is strongest when the stone is cut parallel to the fibrous structure. Blue-gray hawk’s-eye is an incompletely oxidized related variety.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its silky, shifting band of light, brown-gold fibers, quartz-like hardness, and lack of strong cleavage; it should not scratch easily with a steel blade. Common sources include South Africa, Australia, India, Brazil, and Namibia.