Tiger Eye
What is Tiger Eye?
Tiger eye is a chatoyant gemstone and member of the quartz family.
It is usually yellow or golden to red-brown in color with a silky brilliance and luster to it.
Because Tiger Eye represents courage, power, and protection, Roman soldiers wore engraved Tiger Eye to protect them when they went into battle.
Though the days of Roman soldiers going into battle are long over, Tiger Eye still has very powerful protective properties and facilitates the accomplishing of goals. It helps determine one’s needs and puts an end to wishful thinking.
Tiger Eye can be found in Western Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Namibia, South Africa, and the United States.
The Tiger Eye crystal is associated with the planet Mars. It encourages a balanced and stable emotional state and works to harmonize the Solar Plexus, Heart, and Third Eye chakras.
It is also known to stimulate psychic abilities and unify one with higher energies.
Tiger Eye Stone Spiritual Meaning
Tiger Eye has a big part to play in the protection from the effects of the Evil Eye as it has the power to remove negative energies. Because of this property, Tiger Eye aids in taking care of one’s spiritual life and energy.
The Tiger Eye stone is also known for its ability to open the third eye or a person’s psychic abilities.
It is also believed to bring success in love, riches, and luck.
| Chemical Classification | Inorganic - Silicate (Quartz with inclusions of crocidolite fibers) |
| Color | Golden to red-brown with silky luster. |
| Streak | White |
| Luster | Silky. |
| Transparency | Opaque. |
| Occurrence | South Africa, Australia, and India. |
| Formation | Formed when parallel veins of crocidolite are pseudomorphically replaced by quartz. |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque with chatoyancy |
| Cleavage | None |
| Mohs Hardness | 5.5 to 6. |
| Specific Gravity | Approximately 2.64-2.71. |
| Diagnostic Properties | Chatoyancy (cat's-eye effect), golden brown bands. |
| Chemical Composition | SiO2 (with inclusions of crocidolite fibers) |
| Pleochroism | Not exhibited in Tiger Eye. |
| Crystal System | Hexagonal (metamorphosed to Quartz) |
| Optical Properties | Uniaxial (-) |
| Refractive Index | 1.544 - 1.553 |
| Birefringence | 0.009 |
| 2V angle | Not applicable (metamorphosed to Quartz) |
| Dispersion | Not typically relevant for Tiger Eye. |