gemstone
Tumbled tiger’s-eye
Quartz variety, chiefly fibrous chalcedony pseudomorph after crocidolite; SiO₂
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6.5–7 Mohs; golden-brown to dark brown with silky chatoyancy, vitreous-to-waxy luster, and no prominent cleavage. The rounded, polished form is human-processed; the dark areas may be iron oxides or residual altered fibers.
Identified More gemstone →
Explore Tumbled tiger’s-eye in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness 6.5–7 Mohs; golden-brown to dark brown with silky chatoyancy, vitreous-to-waxy luster, and no prominent cleavage. The rounded, polished form is human-processed; the dark areas may be iron oxides or residual altered fibers.
Formation & geological history
Forms when quartz replaces blue asbestos-like crocidolite fibers during hydrothermal alteration, preserving fibrous structure; commonly Precambrian in age. Major deposits occur in South Africa, Namibia, Australia, India, and the United States.
Uses & applications
Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, tumbled stones, and inexpensive jewelry; not generally used structurally or industrially.
Geological facts
Its moving cat’s-eye band results from reflection along aligned fibers, called chatoyancy. Golden tiger’s-eye represents more strongly oxidized material than blue hawk’s-eye.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its parallel silky sheen that shifts as the stone moves, brown-gold color, and hardness sufficient to scratch glass. A uniformly glassy stone without chatoyancy may be dyed glass or another imitation.
More like this
Other gemstone specimens
Gemstone Ring
N/A - Set piece of jewelry, likely Amethyst or Garnet with Diamond or CZ
gemstone
Ammolite
Ammolite (Biogenic Aragonite with trace elements; fossils of Placenticeras meeki and Placenticeras intercalare)
mineral
Topaz
Al2SiO4(F,OH)2
mineral
Amber
Succinite (Organic Gemstone)
mineral
Diamond and Gold Jewelry
Carbon (Diamond) / Au (Gold)
gemstone
Red Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions
sedimentary