gemstone

Tumbled tiger’s-eye

Chatoyant quartz, chiefly fibrous quartz (SiO₂) pseudomorphically replacing crocidolite

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; golden-yellow to brown bands, vitreous-to-silky luster, opaque, with strong chatoyancy (cat’s-eye effect) caused by aligned fibers. Quartz is trigonal and has no cleavage; specific gravity is about 2.6–2.7.

Identified August 19, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when iron-rich crocidolite fibers are silicified and later oxidized, producing golden tiger’s-eye; major deposits are associated with Precambrian rocks, especially in South Africa and Western Australia. The pictured piece is polished/tumbled.

Uses & applications

Used for cabochons, beads, carvings, ornaments, and inexpensive jewelry; it has little industrial use compared with ordinary quartz.

Geological facts

The moving band of reflected light is called chatoyancy and is strongest when the stone is cut parallel to its fiber alignment. Blue-gray hawk’s-eye and red-brown variants also occur.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its parallel silky bands, golden-brown color, and shifting bright eye under directional light; hardness and appearance help distinguish it from dyed glass or plastic. Common sources include South Africa, Australia, India, and Brazil.