The stone called "tiger's eye" is a kind of quartz... It is silicon dioxide containing impurities that give it beautiful golden yellow or golden brown hues. The most common impurities can be impurities of crocidolite, limonite, goethite. Impurities contain iron oxides with hydroxyl groups.

A distinctive feature of the stone is its silky sheen and iridescent longitudinal stripes of yellow, gray, brown and black that cut through its structure. Silky iridescence is formed in the mineral due to the parallel-fibrous structure. Thus, a stunning effect is obtained, which makes the stone very attractive.



The tiger's eye stone has been known to people for a long time. Roman legionnaires considered these stones to be magical and used them as amulets. Mysterious symbols were engraved on the stone, saving the warrior in battles. In India, they also believed in the miraculous power of the stone, in its reliable protection from the tiger itself, and indeed from any predatory animal.



Indian magicians claimed that the stone becomes heavier, warning the owner of the danger. In the Sumerian kingdom, stone was also used as talismans. In addition to magical purposes, the tiger's eye was inserted into the eye sockets of the statues of the gods.

And one more amazing property has a tiger's eye. With its structure, it can tell scientists a lot about the movement of the earth's crust over millions of years.

Physicochemical properties of the tiger's eye

Chemical formula - SiO2, as an impurity - Fe2O3.
Colour - iridescent stripes of black, yellow, orange shades.
Hardness - 7 on the Mohs scale.
Density - 2.6-2.8 g / cm3.
Break - conchoidal.

Deposits of stone

Tiger's eye is mined in India, Burma, Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Canada, USA, Ukraine. High-quality minerals are also found on the territory of Russia, mainly deposits are concentrated in the Urals and in Eastern Siberia.



Processing of the tiger's eye and its use in jewelry

Tiger's eye is a jewelry and ornamental stone. It has been used in jewelry for a long time, it is processed in the form of cabochons, then polished. When processing a stone, the master strives to preserve all the shades of the mineral as much as possible. This is best done with cabochon processing. In earrings, pendants, sometimes the mineral is given a plate-like shape.

In necklaces, beads can be either round or lamellar. At the same time, the master does not always give the correct shape, necklaces with irregular outlines look beautiful. Tiger's eye bracelets look great.

The tiger's eye is also widely used as an ornamental material. Tiger's eye souvenirs are in great demand. Small sculptures, boxes and figurines are made of it, large items are rare.

Sometimes the stone is subjected to heat treatment, which leads to the appearance of reddish shades, and then it gets a slightly different name - "bull's eye". There are other types of processing, which gives the receipt and "cat's eyea". However, the stone "tiger's eye" is so colorful and spectacular that looking at it in a processed form, one would hardly want to change it in any way.



Despite its beauty, the stone belongs to the minerals of a low price category. Cabochons with a diagonal of about 4 cm are usually priced from ten to several tens of dollars.In jewelry production, stones with light stripes on the surface are considered the most valuable. Black stripes reduce the price of the mineral.

Jewelry with a tiger's eye will help to create very harmonious images in a natural natural palette.

How to distinguish from a fake

Counterfeits are rare, since the stone has a low cost. But there is still a desire to deceive. These are glass fakes. It is easy to distinguish them from natural stone - they have a high degree of transparency, which a real tiger's eye cannot have. In fakes, they create an overly bright and uniform iridescence.




The iridescent golden hues in the stone have long led to the assumption that the influence of the Sun was not without. Indeed, experts in the magical properties of stones claim that the stone is under the control of the Sun and is powered by its energy. Astrologers are convinced of the benefits of the stone for those born under the sign of Leo, Sagittarius, Virgo, Gemini, Capricorn and Taurus.

If you think that you need additional energy, vigilance, determination and endurance, as well as patience, that is, all those qualities that are inherent in a brave tiger, then get magnificent jewelry with a spectacular stone. And if you already have iron nerves, strong character and business acumen, you will still buy yourself a beautiful box or souvenir-statuette, you will not regret it. The stones with the shades of the sun will always delight you.

Healing properties

It is recommended to wear the tiger's eye for quick recovery after severe surgery and after a stroke. Lithotherapists claim that the stone will help those suffering from asthma and overeating. In other words, the tiger's eye can reduce hunger and cleanse the body of toxins. Diseases such as rheumatism, heart disease, joints, otitis media, hypertension, stone can also relieve.

Ancient healers believed that the tiger's eye has the ability to direct streams of solar energy into the human body. Therefore, they recommended constant wearing to those with poor health, insomnia, depression, nightmares and fears, as well as people with chronic fatigue.

To all that has been said, it should be added that the tiger's eye loves energetic and courageous.