metamorphic
Tiger’s eye
Quartz-rich rock with fibrous crocidolite-derived chatoyant bands; chiefly SiO₂
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectGolden-brown, silky luster with shifting bands; Mohs hardness about 7, no prominent cleavage, and a trigonal quartz crystal structure. The specimen appears wet or polished, which intensifies its sheen.
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Physical properties
Golden-brown, silky luster with shifting bands; Mohs hardness about 7, no prominent cleavage, and a trigonal quartz crystal structure. The specimen appears wet or polished, which intensifies its sheen.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica replaces fibrous crocidolite during low-grade alteration, preserving its fibers as chatoyant quartz. Common deposits are associated with iron-rich rocks, especially in South Africa; formation ages vary by deposit.
Uses & applications
Cut and polished for beads, cabochons, ornaments, and small carvings; also collected as a decorative stone.
Geological facts
Its moving, reflective band of light is called chatoyancy, from a French word meaning “cat’s eye.”
Field identification & locations
Look for parallel golden-to-brown bands whose bright sheen shifts as the stone is tilted; tiger’s eye is often sold tumbled or polished. Not enough detail is visible here to confirm the identification definitively.
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