Tiger’s Eye
Tiger's eye is a variety of quartz known for its golden to reddish-brown colour and silky, shifting bands of light. It forms where quartz grows between fine fibres of crocidolite, a blue fibrous mineral, which then alter to iron oxides that give the stone its golden-brown colour. The parallel fibrous structure reflects light in a bright, moving band, an effect called chatoyancy, which is why tiger's eye is usually cut as cabochons or beads.
Several related stones form in the same way. Hawk's eye (or falcon's eye) is the blue to blue-grey form, where the crocidolite has not altered. Red tiger's eye (also called bull's eye or ox eye) is usually produced by gently heating golden tiger's eye. Tiger iron is a banded rock combining tiger's eye with red jasper and black hematite, and pietersite is a brecciated (broken and recemented) stone with swirling chatoyant patterns, found in Namibia and China.
Most tiger's eye comes from South Africa, with other important sources in Australia, Namibia, India, Myanmar, Brazil, China and the USA. It is affordable and very popular for beads, cabochons, carvings and men's jewellery.
Tiger's eye may be heat-treated to produce red tones, bleached to lighten its colour, or dyed in colours such as green, blue, pink and purple. Imitations include fibre optic glass ("cat's eye glass"). Because the original crocidolite fibres are not completely replaced, dust from cutting and grinding tiger's eye should not be breathed in, but polished beads are safe to wear.
Tiger's Eye at a glance
| Colour | Golden yellow to brown, red-brown; blue (hawk's eye); often dyed |
|---|---|
| Hardness (Mohs scale) | 6.5 – 7 |
| Composition | Silicon dioxide with altered crocidolite fibres and iron oxides |
| Crystal structure | Trigonal; fibrous aggregate |
| Lustre | Silky |
| Transparency | Opaque |
| Where it is found | South Africa, Australia, Namibia, India, Myanmar, Brazil, China, Canada and USA |
Caring for tiger's eye
Tiger's eye is fairly hard (6.5 – 7 on the Mohs scale) and suitable for everyday jewellery. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, then rinse and dry. Avoid harsh chemicals, ultrasonic and steam cleaners, and prolonged heat, which can alter the colour, particularly in dyed or heat-treated stones. Store separately from harder gems to avoid scratches.
In folklore
The beliefs below are traditional folklore, included for interest. They are not scientifically proven, and nothing here is medical advice.
Roman soldiers wore engraved tiger's eye for protection in battle, and in many parts of the world it is believed to guard against the evil eye and curses. Ancient Egyptians are said to have used it for the eyes of statues of their gods, symbolising divine vision. Folklore holds that tiger's eye lets the wearer see everything, even through closed doors. It is associated with the zodiac signs Leo, Capricorn and Gemini.
Tiger's eye is traditionally regarded as a stone of courage, confidence and protection. Crystal healing lore holds that it helps the wearer stay grounded, focused and calm under pressure, boosts willpower and self-belief, and brings good luck and prosperity. It is linked to the solar plexus and sacral chakras.
Related stones
Hawk's eye (falcon's eye), red tiger's eye (bull's eye), tiger iron, pietersite, cat's eye quartz and quartz. Stones that can look similar include cat's eye chrysoberyl, chatoyant obsidian, fibre optic glass, golden sheen obsidian and petrified wood.
For the technically minded
| Scientific name | SiO2 (with crocidolite/iron oxide) |
|---|---|
| Density | 2.64 – 2.71 |
| Refractive index | 1.544 – 1.553 |
| Double refraction | 0.009 |
| Cleavage | None |
| Streak | Yellowish-brown |
| Fluorescence | None |