metamorphic

Tumbled tiger’s-eye

Quartz variety, mainly fibrous chalcedony with crocidolite pseudomorphs; SiO₂

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

The small polished stone is golden-brown with a silky chatoyant band, vitreous-to-waxy luster, and no obvious cleavage. Hardness is about 6.5–7 Mohs; specific gravity is approximately 2.6–2.7, with a microcrystalline quartz structure.

Identified September 4, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Tiger’s-eye forms when blue crocidolite asbestos fibers are replaced by quartz while retaining their fibrous texture, followed by iron oxidation that produces golden-brown colors. Major deposits are Precambrian in age, especially in South Africa and Western Australia.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, tumbled stones, and decorative objects; it is inexpensive but popular with collectors and jewelry makers.

Geological facts

Its moving reflective stripe is called chatoyancy, caused by aligned fibers reflecting light. Blue, golden, and red varieties may occur in the same geological material.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its brown-gold color, silky cat’s-eye effect that shifts with lighting, opaque body, and quartz-like hardness; it should scratch glass but not be scratched by steel. Common sources include South Africa, Australia, India, Brazil, and the United States.