Tiger's Eye
yellowbrowngold · Quartz family
| Also known as | Quartz (Quartz family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Yellow, Brown, Gold, Red |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 |
| Lustre | Silky |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | α-quartz: trigonal β-quartz: hexagonal |
| Transparency | Transparent to nearly opaque |
| Cleavage | none |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Chemical formula | Silica () |
| Specific gravity | 2.64–2.71 |
What is Tiger's Eye?
Tiger's eye is a chatoyant gemstone that is usually a metamorphic rock with a golden to red-brown colour and a silky lustre. As members of the quartz group, tiger's eye and the related blue-coloured mineral hawk's eye gain their silky, lustrous appearance from the parallel intergrowth of quartz crystals and altered amphibole fibres that have mostly turned into limonite.
How to identify Tiger's Eye
- Lustre: Silky.
- Hardness: Mohs 6.5–7 — about as hard as a steel knife.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: α-quartz: trigonal β-quartz: hexagonal crystal system.
Tiger's Eye in different forms
Stones often confused with Tiger's Eye
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Tiger's Eye?
Tiger's Eye is Mohs 6.5–7 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Tiger's Eye?
Tiger's Eye is typically yellow, brown, gold, red (golden to red-brown).