mineral

Tumbled tiger’s-eye

Quartz variety, fibrous golden-brown SiO₂ (pseudomorphic quartz after crocidolite)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 6.5–7 Mohs; golden-brown chatoyant bands, vitreous to silky luster, translucent to opaque, and no prominent cleavage. Its moving cat’s-eye sheen results from aligned fibrous inclusions and polished surfaces.

Identified August 30, 2026More mineral →

Explore Tumbled tiger’s-eye in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when crocidolite asbestos fibers are replaced by silica during weathering, commonly in iron-rich metamorphic rocks; the best-known material formed in Precambrian terrains of South Africa and Western Australia. The pictured specimen is tumbled and polished.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, ornaments, and inexpensive jewelry; polished pieces are popular among mineral collectors.

Geological facts

Tiger’s-eye is a pseudomorph: quartz preserves the fibrous texture of an earlier mineral. Blue hawk’s-eye is an incompletely altered precursor, while reddish tones may result from heating or oxidation.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its silky, mobile chatoyancy and parallel golden bands; unlike synthetic glass, the fibers and banding are irregular. Common sources include South Africa, Australia, India, Namibia, and Brazil.