Where is Red Tiger's Eye found?
Quartz (macro-crystalline variety)
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Open the appRed Tiger's Eye occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Red Tiger's Eye
South Africa
The primary source of high-quality Red Tiger's Eye, particularly in the Northern Cape Province, where extensive banded iron formations host the original crocidolite deposits.
Australia
Western Australia, particularly the Hamersley Range, is another significant source, often found in association with iron ore deposits.
India
Some occurrences have been reported, though generally less prominent than South African or Australian sources.
Collecting tips
- Look for Chatoyancy. The most distinctive feature is the silky, shifting band of light (chatoyancy) that moves across the surface when the stone is rotated. This is crucial for identification.
- Observe Color and Banding. Red Tiger's Eye exhibits reddish-brown to brick-red hues, often with parallel bands of varying intensity. The color should be consistent with oxidized iron.
- Check for Fibrous Structure. Even in polished specimens, the underlying fibrous structure, which causes the chatoyancy, can often be discerned upon close inspection.
- Hardness Test. As a quartz variety, it should scratch glass (Mohs hardness 7). This helps differentiate it from softer imitations.
- Distinguish from Heat-Treated Tiger's Eye. Much of the Red Tiger's Eye on the market is heat-treated golden Tiger's Eye. While chemically identical, naturally occurring Red Tiger's Eye often has a more nuanced color distribution. Distinguishing between natural and heat-treated can be challenging without advanced mineralogical analysis, but for collectors, it's an important distinction.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Reddish-brown to brick-red with parallel bands
- Luster:
- Silky to vitreous, strong chatoyancy
- Streak:
- White
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