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Composition
Tiger's Eye is made of silicon and oxygen, one part silicon to two parts oxygen. It is also known as a pseudomorph, or, as explained by Cally Oldershaw in the book "Gems of the World," "the result of one mineral replacing another." Tiger's Eye is a pseudomorph of crocidolite. The stone itself is made of fibers of quartz, which create its unique, shiny appearance. Along with its layers of fibers, the stone has a trigonal crystal system.
Appearance
The stone's layered and shimmering appearance, as explained above, is mostly due to the layers of different fibers; however, in the rough, these stones lack the shimmer and color differentiation often associated with the stone, as the fibers are concealed. These fibers are revealed during the cutting process, allowing the noted appearance to be seen. Tiger's Eye tends to be a brown and yellowed colored stone, sometimes with shades of red or gray. The color of Tiger's Eye quartz occurs naturally, while some of the other forms of chatoyant quartz are the result of heat or acid treatments. The brown colors come from the oxidation process the stone undergoes as a part of its transformation from crocidolite to quartz.
General Properties
On the Mohs' Hardness Scale, Tiger's Eye rates a seven. With its composition of silicon and oxygen, it is classified as a silicate. Tiger's Eye is also a stone that is resistant to fractures in the structure, making it a sturdy gem. Some Tiger's Eye pieces may be semi-translucent, allowing for some light to pass through the stone, while other are opaque, letting no light pass through. For jewelry making purposes, the stone is best featured in a cabochon cut, which allows for the variety of colors and fibers to be reflected nicely. A cabochon cut tends to be a circular or oval shape with a domed surface.