metamorphic
Tumbled tiger’s eye
Quartz variety, chiefly SiO₂ with fibrous riebeckite/crocidolite pseudomorphs
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6.5–7 Mohs; golden-brown to reddish-brown bands, silky chatoyant luster, opaque, microcrystalline quartz, no obvious cleavage. The polished surface shows a reflective cat’s-eye effect when moved under light.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6.5–7 Mohs; golden-brown to reddish-brown bands, silky chatoyant luster, opaque, microcrystalline quartz, no obvious cleavage. The polished surface shows a reflective cat’s-eye effect when moved under light.
Formation & geological history
Forms when quartz replaces and preserves fibrous crocidolite during hydrothermal alteration, commonly in metamorphosed iron-rich rocks; major deposits are Proterozoic in age, especially in South Africa and Western Australia.
Uses & applications
Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, ornaments, and inexpensive collector specimens; also marketed as a decorative or metaphysical stone.
Geological facts
Its chatoyancy results from aligned fibers and typically appears as a moving band of light across the polished surface. Red varieties are called red tiger’s eye; blue material is hawk’s eye.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its parallel golden bands, glassy polish, and moving silky sheen, distinguishing it from plain brown jasper. Common sources include South Africa, Australia, India, and Brazil.
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