Tiger Eye is one of those stones that most of us recognize from our childhood due to it's 'cat eye' appearance.  Tiger Eye or Tigers Eye is also a stone that people mimic with man made materials, so watch out for stones called 'cat eye'. They do look very different though.  

Tiger Eye is a member of the Chalcedony mineral family. It is a quartz aggregate which forms when quartz has crocidolite breaks and water enters, leading it to grow into the rock. The process is followed by the quartz continuing to crack and grow again. This results in visible bands with diagonal crocidolite fibers. The golden- brown shade of the crystal is caused by the iron which oxidizes. There are other shades such as red, blue and green caused by different growth environments and trace components.

Tiger Eye is named after the cat’s eye effect it has when viewed under direct sunlight. It’s a bright band of light which moves as the stone is turned in different angles.

Tiger Eye is a silicon dioxide mineral. It’s a solid crystal with a 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale. It has a microfibrous structure which is visible as line patterns within the stone. 

 

What does tiger eye look like?

Tiger Eye is an opaque golden-brown quartz stone that is known for its optical effects under the light. You can identify these stones by their bands of gold, yellow, brown, and black. Before polished and tumbled, tigers eye is rigid and glasslike. You will also be able to feel its many layers.  After the stone has been tumbled and polished, tiger eye layers are more prominent and satin-like, but the rigid layers can no longer be felt.

Although the golden tiger eye is the most well-known, there are different variations of blue and red. The blue variation is referred to as Hawk’s Eye and the Red variation is referred to as Dragon’s Eye. The red and blue colors form from different minerals and levels of oxidation. They all have the same awesome lining as the original, and can mix colors too.

 

Where does tiger eye come from?

Tiger Eye is for the most part produced in the Transvaal province in Africa and is officially the national gemstone of South Africa. These crystals have a long history on that land especially in Egyptian culture. They were used to represent the eyes of their gods because Egyptians believed that it symbolized divine vision.

 

Tigers Eye Meaning

Tiger Eye is the best stone for growing confidence. This is due to the fact that it connects to the lower three chakras: sacral, solar and root. These are the chakras of being grounded, which would give courage to step out of the comfort zone. Additionally, Tiger Eye provides harmony and balance by releasing anxiety. It also helps with protection and shifting lack of motivation.

Tiger Eye has the spiritual ability to bring beauty and peace. This stone is also believed to help you connect with the sun and nourish the soul through the sun’s power. Some people like to wear Tiger’s Eye jewelry or carry a stone in their pocket to improve mental clarity.

 

What does tiger eye do?

Tiger Eye can bring peace in your home or office by placing it according to the Feng Shui map. In general, one of the best spots is close to the front door. For those who need to raise their self- assurance, keep the crystal close to the skin with gemstone jewelry. The Tiger Eye is also a perfect match for Capricorns and Leos as it is one of their birthstones. No matter how you choose to use this crystal, you will undoubtedly receive positive effects.

More about Tiger Eye

Tiger Eye is known to have Asbestos deep within its structure, so if you are worried about it, please be sure to wash your hands after handling raw Tiger Eye stone.  Polished is the best way to avoid this, and do not soak the stone in water.  Most people however say that because the Asbestos is so encapsulated in the growth process that it cannot actually harm you.  But always use caution with raw Tiger Eye.

This stone is high on the Mohs hardness scale and rates a 6.5-7, meaning that it can scratch glass. When broken, Tigers Eye will leave behind uneven and granular sides that some say remind them of a slab of steak.

Chakra: Solar plexus, Root and Sacral

Tiger Eye Localities: India, Brazil, Canada, Spain, China, Korea, Myanmar, Australia,  Namibia, and the USA.