Rough Tiger's Eye - Minas Gerais, Brazil

Tiger’s eye from Minas Gerais, Brazil, is renowned for its striking beauty and vibrant chatoyancy, a silky luster that creates a captivating "cat’s eye" effect when light moves across its surface. This semiprecious quartz variety forms as a result of the pseudomorphous replacement of crocidolite fibers by silica, preserving the fibrous structure that gives the stone its characteristic shimmer. The tiger’s eye from this region typically features rich golden-brown hues, often interwoven with bands of earthy reds and deep browns, which are further enhanced by the high polish that the material takes on. These features make Minas Gerais tiger’s eye a favorite among lapidary artists and collectors.

Geologically, the tiger’s eye deposits in Minas Gerais are associated with the region’s ancient, metamorphosed iron formations, which provide the necessary conditions for its formation. The area's rich mineral history and abundance of silica-rich environments contribute to the high quality of the tiger’s eye found here. Known for its durability and mesmerizing patterns, tiger’s eye from Minas Gerais is not only used in jewelry but also cherished as a decorative stone and for metaphysical purposes. This material is sought after globally for its aesthetic qualities and the mystique associated with its protective and grounding properties.