Tigers Eye Stone

Tigers Eye Stone

Tiger Eye is asbestos that has been replaced with iron-bearing Quartz, leaving the fibrous appearance behind and creating the eye effect. This is called the chatoyant effect or chatoyancy. It is therefore a member of the quartz group of chalcedonies. Chatoyancy results in a changeable silky luster as light is reflected within the thin parallel fibrous bands. This effect is due to the fibrous structure of the material.

Looking at the chemical composition of Tiger Eye, it is asbestos that has been replaced by Quartz. The yellow/brown coloring is provided by Limonite, an iron mineral. It is sometimes a component of massive Tiger Iron deposits, as found in Australia. Tiger Eye measures 7.0 on the Moh's Hardness Scale. Most of the modern day Tiger eye comes from Australia and China. Tiger's eye is mined mostly in Western Australia, South Africa, USA, Canada, India, Namibia, and Burma.

Tigers Eye Stone