Tiger's Eye
Chatoyant quartz formed by pseudomorphous replacement of crocidolite asbestos fibers with silica. Golden-yellow Tiger's Eye results from iron oxide staining of the silica pseudomorph. Hawk's Eye is the blue-grey unaltered variety. Red Tiger's Eye (ox-blood) is heat-treated. Always cut en cabochon to display chatoyancy.
Physical & Optical Properties
Related: Quartz Varieties
Key Differentiators
- Chatoyancy (cat's eye effect) from parallel fibrous structure
- Golden yellow to red-brown silky luster
- Fibrous pseudo-morphous structure after crocidolite asbestos
- Inert under UV; quartz RI and SG
Treatments
- Heat Treatment (red Tiger's Eye / Ox Blood — from golden via heat)
- Dyed (blue, green, and other non-natural colors)
Price Context
Price context is approximate. GemID is not an appraisal tool. Results are indicators, not certified valuations.
About Tiger's Eye
Chatoyant quartz formed by pseudomorphous replacement of crocidolite asbestos fibers with silica. Golden-yellow Tiger's Eye results from iron oxide staining of the silica pseudomorph. Hawk's Eye is the blue-grey unaltered variety. Red Tiger's Eye (ox-blood) is heat-treated. Always cut en cabochon to display chatoyancy.
Identifying a tiger's eye? GemID walks through these tests in order — RI, SG, fluorescence, and more.
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