Cat's eye quartz displays a distinct optical phenomenon known as chatoyancy, where a bright, shifting band of light moves across the surface of a cabochon-cut stone. This effect is caused by the inclusion of parallel fibrous minerals, such as rutile or asbestos, within the quartz matrix. Collectors prize it for its unique light-reflective qualities and typically find it in cabochon form due to its opaque to translucent nature.
Is this cat's eye quartz?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch cat's eye quartz with a known reference. Cat's Eye Quartz sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Cat's Eye Quartz leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Cat's Eye Quartz typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray, yellow, green, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Cat's Eye Quartz vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Chrysoberyl is the harder of the two (Mohs 8.5 vs. 7).
How to tell apart: Cat's Eye Quartz is noticeably harder (Mohs 7 vs. 1); luster reads vitreous on Cat's Eye Quartz and pearly on Talc.
Often found alongside cat's eye quartz
Minerals reported to co-occur with cat's eye quartz. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 2.65 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Gemstone, Lapidary, Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $10-100 per carat for cut stones
Where rockhounds find cat's eye quartz
Classic worldwide localities
- Sri Lanka
- India
- Brazil
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where cat's eye quartz typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, hematite, goethite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find cat's eye quartz on the map
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