Tigers Eye Crystals from South Africa

Some of the world's finest tigers eye comes from Griqualand West in the Northern Cape of South Africa.

This distinctive stone is well known for its chatoyant properties.  The word which comes from French for 'cat's eye' is a description of the way light interacts with fibres within the stone.  Chatoyance can be seen in other rocks and minerals but is best known in tigers eye.

Tigers eye contains quartz and crocidolite which is a type of asbestos.  The presence of asbestos usually causes panic which has led to some people being wary about handling the stone.  The fossilised crocidolite is encapsulated deep within the quartz so poses no risk to health.

The danger from asbestos minerals comes from inhaling the dust and microscopic fibres.  For this to take place they must first break away and become airborne.  In tigers eye and also the mineral pietersite that just isn't possible.     

The chatoyance in tigers eye is dependant on the orientation of the crocidolite fibres within the quartz.  The level of skill applied when cutting the stone also plays a part.

With the reflection of light colours and markings can appear to move.  Chatoyance is not visible in every piece of tigers eye. 

Tigers eye is completely safe to handle but appropriate precautions must be taken if cutting or grinding material down.  The dust from many minerals is toxic.  Examples include malachite, quartz and pyrite to name just a few.

The size of these tigers eye tumbled stones can vary from piece to piece.  They're classed as a large size stone.

We also have tigers eye tumbled stones in smaller sizes. 

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