Description
Red Tiger Eye Obelisk Point – Polished Quartz Mineral Tower
This Red Tiger Eye obelisk point is a polished mineral specimen shaped into a tower or obelisk form to highlight the distinctive chatoyant bands characteristic of this quartz variety. The stone displays rich reddish-brown tones and reflective fibrous patterns that shift in appearance as light moves across the polished surface.
The obelisk form features a polished base with tapered sides that rise to a defined point, allowing the mineral’s natural structure and optical effects to be visible from multiple angles. The crystal has been carefully selected for colour, banding, and overall mineral quality.
The listing photographs show the exact specimen you will receive, enabling collectors and buyers to examine the natural banding, chatoyancy, and polished finish before purchase. For the precise measurements and scale, please refer to the sizing information shown in the listing photographs.
This mineral specimen includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming the authenticity of the crystal.
Mineral Species and Geological Classification
Red Tiger Eye is a variety of quartz, composed primarily of silicon dioxide with the chemical formula SiO₂. It belongs to the quartz mineral family, which forms in the trigonal crystal system.
Tiger Eye develops through a geological process known as pseudomorphism, where fibrous crocidolite (a type of amphibole) is gradually replaced by silica while retaining the original fibrous structure of the mineral. This preserved structure creates the characteristic parallel fibres that produce the reflective optical effect known as chatoyancy, often described as a cat’s-eye appearance.
Red Tiger Eye is typically produced when golden Tiger Eye undergoes natural heating within the Earth or controlled heating during processing, which deepens the colour from golden brown to reddish tones while preserving the fibrous quartz structure.
Colour, Chatoyancy and Physical Properties
Red Tiger Eye is recognised for its deep red to reddish-brown colour combined with shimmering bands that move across the surface when the stone is rotated in light.
This effect occurs because the internal fibrous structure reflects light differently depending on viewing angle. The result is a dynamic appearance where bright bands appear to glide across the stone.
Typical mineral properties include:
• Mineral Species: Quartz (Tiger Eye variety)
• Chemical Formula: SiO₂
• Mineral Group: Quartz
• Crystal System: Trigonal
• Colour: Red to reddish-brown with darker banding
• Optical Effect: Chatoyancy (cat’s-eye effect)
• Transparency: Opaque
• Lustre: Silky to vitreous when polished
• Mohs Hardness: Approximately 6.5–7
The fibrous internal structure responsible for the chatoyant effect is preserved during polishing, allowing the mineral’s optical properties to remain visible in carved forms such as obelisks.
Geological Formation of Tiger Eye
Tiger Eye forms through the replacement of crocidolite fibres by silica-rich fluids during geological alteration. As the crocidolite slowly dissolves and is replaced by quartz, the fibrous structure remains intact.
Iron present in the original amphibole fibres oxidises during this process, producing the golden or reddish tones characteristic of Tiger Eye varieties.
These mineral transformations typically occur in metamorphic and hydrothermal geological environments, where silica-bearing fluids circulate through existing mineral deposits.
Associated minerals in these environments can include:
• Quartz
• Hematite
• Goethite
• Jasper
• Other iron-rich silica minerals
The presence of iron oxides contributes to the warm colour tones seen in many Tiger Eye specimens.
Obelisk Tower Shape and Display Appeal
The obelisk or tower shape is created through careful cutting and polishing of the stone. This geometric form features multiple flat faces rising to a point, which enhances the visual display of the mineral’s internal patterns and reflective bands.
The vertical surfaces of the obelisk allow light to interact with the chatoyant fibres across different angles, making the shifting bands particularly visible when the specimen is moved or illuminated.
Obelisk points are popular display pieces for:
• Mineral collections
• Decorative natural stone displays
• Geological study collections
• Desk or shelf display
Because each piece of Tiger Eye forms naturally, every specimen displays unique banding patterns, colour intensity, and internal fibre alignment.
In some cultural traditions, Tiger Eye has been traditionally associated with symbolic meanings relating to focus or protection, though these interpretations are cultural perspectives rather than scientifically established properties.
Authenticity and Specimen Information
• Mineral Species: Quartz (Tiger Eye variety)
• Chemical Formula: SiO₂
• Mineral Group: Quartz
• Crystal System: Trigonal
• Colour: Red to reddish-brown with banding
• Optical Effect: Chatoyancy
• Transparency: Opaque
• Lustre: Silky to vitreous when polished
• Hardness: 6.5–7 Mohs
• Geological Formation: Silica replacement of fibrous crocidolite
• Shape: Polished obelisk tower point
• Authenticity: Genuine mineral specimen
• Included: Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card
• Exact Item: The Red Tiger Eye obelisk shown in the listing photographs is the specimen you will receive
This Red Tiger Eye obelisk point highlights the striking chatoyant structure of this quartz mineral, offering a visually dynamic specimen suitable for mineral collections, geological displays, or natural stone décor.
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