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SiO₂
Tiger’s eye
Quartz replaced the blue asbestos fibre for fibre, and the chatoyant band is the ghost of that crocidolite.
- Formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5–7
- Crystal system
- trigonal
- Colour
- yellow, blue
- Element
- earth
- Chakra (tradition)
- solar plexus
- Zodiac
- Capricorn, Gemini, Leo
- Month
- —
- Where the earth keeps it
- South Africa, Australia
What it actually is
Tiger’s eye is SiO₂ before it is a story. The lattice is trigonal, Mohs 6.5–7, and the eye meets yellow, blue.
The better pieces still come out of the ground in South Africa, Australia. Quartz replaced the blue asbestos fibre for fibre, and the chatoyant band is the ghost of that crocidolite.
What the old tradition whispers
The parlour tradition ties Tiger’s eye to earth and to the solar plexus centre. The old site stood it near: Capricorn, Gemini, Leo.
How not to turn it to ash
Quartz will take lukewarm water and a cloth. Long sun fades amethyst and rose quartz. Perfume is a worse neighbour than dust.