Stone's names: Tiger eye, also
spelled tiger's-eye and tigereye.
Tiger eye is also called crocidolite cat's-eye or African cat's-eye. Color:
Tiger eye has a rich yellow and golden brown stripes, with a fine golden lustre when
polished.
Description: Tiger eye is quartz that contains oriented
fibres of crocidolite that have been replaced by silica.
Tiger eye is displaying chatoyancy (a vertical luminescent band like that of a cat's eye)
. Tiger eye typically has lustrous alternating yellow or brown bands.
The name's origin: Tiger eye with its bands resembles an
eye of tiger, so it is received its name due to this similarity.
Wedding anniversary: Tiger Eye is the anniversary
gemstone for the 9th year of marriage.
Varieties: Hawk's-eye is similar to tiger eye, except that the
crocidolite was replaced by quartz before altering to iron oxide. It therefore retains the
gray-blue or green of the asbestos.
Care and treatment: As with all gems, protect tiger eye
from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes.
From the stone history: Roman soldiers wore tiger's-eye for
protection in battle. Tiger Eye was thought to be all seeing due to its appearance.
Shopping guide: Tiger Eye is widely used in pendant and
beads where it's lovely tiger-like peculiarity displays out best.
Healing ability: Tiger eye relieves high blood pressure. Tiger
eye wear is very helpful in the presence of following diseases: bronchial asthmakidney,
rheumatic heart disease, otitis and psoriasis.
Mystical power: Tiger Eye is used for focusing the mind. It
is said that Tiger Eye offers protection during travel, strengthens convictions and
confidence. This very warm stone is beneficial for the weak and sick.
Deposits: The most important mine for Tiger Eye is in South
Africa. The best stones come from Griqualand West.