mineral

Tumbled tiger’s-eye

Tiger’s-eye quartz, SiO₂ with fibrous crocidolite pseudomorphs

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 6.5–7; golden-brown to reddish-brown, vitreous to silky luster, opaque, with chatoyancy (a moving cat’s-eye band). Quartz has a trigonal crystal structure but the polished piece is irregular and lacks visible cleavage.

Identified August 12, 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 blue asbestos-like crocidolite fibers are replaced by quartz during hydrothermal alteration, commonly in Precambrian iron-rich rocks. Major deposits occur in South Africa, Western Australia, India, and Namibia.

Uses & applications

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

Geological facts

Its shifting reflective band results from aligned fibrous inclusions, not crystal cleavage. Golden tiger’s-eye commonly develops from intermediate blue hawk’s-eye material through oxidation.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its golden chatoyant stripe, parallel fibrous bands, brown-gold color, and quartz-like hardness; glass or plastic imitations usually show weaker, less directional chatoyancy. This appears to be a small polished or tumbled specimen.