Crystal & mineral guide
Tiger's Eye
SiO₂ (pseudomorph after crocidolite)
Chatoyant golden quartz — staple cabochon for men's jewelry and beads.
Identify Tiger's Eye with RockScanAbout Tiger's Eye
Tiger's eye shows silky chatoyancy from parallel fibrous structure replaced by quartz. Golden-brown South African material dominates trade. Hawk's eye is the blue-gray unoxidized equivalent. Avoid inhaling cutting dust from poorly silicified material.
Tiger's Eye belongs in a crystal identifier workflow because photo cues — color zoning, crystal habit, and surface luster — combine with measurable traits like Mohs 6.5–7 and specific gravity 2.64–2.71. Use RockScan’s camera to get a first-pass ID, then confirm with the checklist below.
Tiger's Eye properties
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 |
|---|---|
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Luster | Silky chatoyant |
| Color | Golden brown to red-brown with bands |
| Composition | Quartz replacing fibrous crocidolite asbestos |
| Formation | Silicification of crocidolite fibers |
| Occurrence | South Africa (main), Australia, India, Namibia |
| Specific gravity | 2.64–2.71 |
| Cleavage | None |
How to identify Tiger's Eye
- Moving chatoyant band across fibers
- Hardness ~7; quartz SG
- Fibrous structure visible on broken edges
Collector notes
- Color caused by iron oxides along former asbestos fibers
- Blue hawk's eye oxidizes toward tiger's eye tones
Value context: Bold even chatoyancy in thick cabochons prices above thin weak material.
Tiger's Eye FAQ
How do you identify Tiger's Eye?
Tiger's Eye (SiO₂ (pseudomorph after crocidolite)) is typically recognized by golden brown to red-brown with bands color, silky chatoyant luster, Mohs hardness 6.5–7, and trigonal crystal system. RockScan can suggest Tiger's Eye from a photo and surface these checks on the result card.
What is Tiger's Eye made of?
Tiger's Eye composition: Quartz replacing fibrous crocidolite asbestos. It forms via silicification of crocidolite fibers and is found in South Africa (main), Australia, India, Namibia.
Is Tiger's Eye valuable?
Bold even chatoyancy in thick cabochons prices above thin weak material.
