Quartz (fibrous, formed by replacement of crocidolite)
Tiger's Eye
Tiger's eye began as crocidolite, a fibrous blue mineral, whose fibres were replaced by quartz while their parallel alignment survived. Light reflecting off that fibre bundle concentrates into a single moving band - chatoyancy - which always runs at right angles to the fibres, so the cutter's orientation decides where it falls.
- Mineral family
Quartz (fibrous, formed by replacement of crocidolite)
- Typical colours
Golden brown and honey, striped with darker chocolate bands
- Hardness (Mohs)
7
- Luster
Silky
- Texture
Smooth, opaque and clearly striped, with a soft band of light lying across the stripes and moving as the piece tilts.
Caring for it
Hard-wearing and easy to live with. Wipe with a soft cloth, wash occasionally in cool soapy water, and avoid strong heat and harsh chemicals, which can dull the silky sheen.