mineral

Tumbled tiger’s-eye

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

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 6.5–7 Mohs; golden-brown to dark brown, vitreous-to-silky luster, opaque, with chatoyant bands caused by aligned fibers. Quartz has a trigonal crystal structure, though tumbling obscures cleavage and crystal form.

Identified August 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when blue asbestos-like crocidolite fibers are replaced by quartz during hydrothermal alteration, commonly in iron-rich metamorphic rocks; major deposits are especially associated with Precambrian rocks of South Africa and Western Australia.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, ornaments, and inexpensive jewelry; polished pieces are popular decorative and lapidary materials.

Geological facts

Its moving reflective band is called chatoyancy, resembling a cat’s eye. The golden color commonly results from oxidation of iron-bearing material.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its silky, mobile golden band and parallel fibrous pattern; unlike glass or ordinary jasper, the chatoyant band shifts with viewing angle. Common sources include South Africa, Australia, India, Brazil, and the United States.