Tiger's Eye

Tiger's Eye

Tiger's eye (also Tigers eye, Tiger eye) is a chatoyant gemstone that is usually yellow- to red-brown, with a silky luster. A member of the quartz group, it is a classic example of pseudomorphous replacement by silica of fibrous crocidolite (blue asbestos). An incompletely silicified blue variant is called "Hawk's eye".

The gems are usually cut en cabochon in order to best display their chatoyancy. Red stones are brought about through gentle heat treatment. Honey-coloured stones have been used to imitate the much higher valued cat's eye chrysoberyl (cymophane), but the overall effect is unconvincing. Artificial fiberoptic glass is a common imitation of tiger's eye, and is produced in a wide range of colors. Tiger's Eye mostly comes from South Africa.

Tiger iron is an altered rock composed chiefly of tiger's eye, red jasper and black hematite. The undulating, contrasting bands of colour and luster make for an attractive motif, and it is mainly used for jewelry-making and ornamentation. Tiger iron is a popular ornamental material used in a variety of applications, from beads and cabochons to knife hilts. Along with tiger's eye it is mined primarily in South Africa and Western Australia. Tiger's eye is primarily composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and the specific gravity ranges from 2.64 -2.71. [http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~eps2/wisc/sg.html Berkeley.edu] Formed by the alteration of crocidolite and consists essentially of quartz colored by iron oxide. Origin: South Africa and Australia

Notable sources of tiger's eye include the USA, South Africa, Canada, China, Brazil, Namibia, India and Burma.

References

* [http://lists.allenpress.com/GSA/i0091-7613-31-6-e44.pdf GSA Comment and Reply on formation of Tiger's and Hawk's Eye]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • tiger's eye — tiger eye or tiger s eye noun 1. A golden brown striped pseudomorph of quartz after crocidolite, used eg in jewellery 2. A pottery glaze resembling this • • • Main Entry: ↑tiger …   Useful english dictionary

  • tiger's-eye — [tī′gər ī΄tī′gərz ī΄] n. a semiprecious, yellow brown stone, silicified crocidolite, used for ornament: also tigereye [tī′gər ī΄] …   English World dictionary

  • Tiger's eye — This article is about the gemstone. For the characters in the Sailor Moon series, see Amazon Trio. Tiger s Eye Polished tiger s eye gemstone General …   Wikipedia

  • tiger's eye — (also tiger eye) noun a yellowish brown semi precious variety of quartz with a silky or chatoyant lustre, formed by replacement of crocidolite …   English new terms dictionary

  • tiger's-eye — ti′ger s eye also tigereye n. jew a golden brown chatoyant stone used for ornament, formed by the alteration of crocidolite, and consisting essentially of quartz colored by iron oxide • Etymology: 1890–95 …   From formal English to slang

  • tiger's-eye — noun see tigereye …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tiger's-eye — /tuy geuhrz uy /, n. 1. a golden brown chatoyant stone used for ornament, formed by the alteration of crocidolite, and consisting essentially of quartz colored by iron oxide. 2. a glass coating or glaze giving the covered object the appearance of …   Universalium

  • tiger's eye — noun A chatoyant gemstone that is usually yellow to red brown, with a silky luster …   Wiktionary

  • tiger's eye — /ˈtaɪgəz aɪ/ (say tuyguhz uy) noun → tigereye …  

  • tiger's-eye — ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ variant of tigereye * * * /tuy geuhrz uy /, n. 1. a golden brown chatoyant stone used for ornament, formed by the alteration of crocidolite, and consisting essentially of quartz colored by iron oxide. 2. a glass coating or glaze… …   Useful english dictionary

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