Scientific Name: Variety of Quartz
Group: Silicates – tectosilicates
Chemical composition: SiO2
Colors: Red-brownwith luminescent banding.
Hardness: 7
Formation: Hexagonal/trigonal crystals; Fibrous form
Principal Sources: South Africa; East Asia
Special Notes: Tiger’s eye (also called Tigers eye or Tiger eye) is a chatoyant gemstone that is a member of the quartz group. It is a classic example of pseudomorphous replacement by silica of fibrous crocidolite (blue asbestos). Tiger’s eye quartz is formed when parallel veins of crocidolite (blue asbestos) are changed to iron oxides and then replaced by silica.