Image: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)
trigonalcommonSilicates
Tiger's Eye
SiO2
A chatoyant variety of quartz, typically golden to reddish-brown, exhibiting a silky luster and a characteristic band of reflected light due to its fibrous structure.
Tiger's Eye Physical Properties
Mohs Hardness
7Crystal System
trigonalLuster
silkyStreak Color
whiteCleavage
noneFracture
conchoidalSpecific Gravity
2.64Colors
golden-brown, yellow-brown, reddish-brownTransparency
translucentType Locality
South AfricaMineral Group
SilicatesUses
jewelry, ornamental objects, carvings, collectorAssociated Minerals
crocidolite, quartzRarity
commonGeological Context
Tiger's Eye forms when quartz replaces fibrous crocidolite (a type of asbestos) in metamorphic rocks, preserving the original fibrous structure. The oxidation of iron within the quartz gives it its characteristic golden-brown color.
