Hawk's Eye is a pseudomorph of quartz after crocidolite, characterized by a striking blue color and a distinct chatoyant effect caused by light reflecting off parallel fibrous inclusions. It is essentially the blue, unoxidized version of Tiger's Eye and is typically found as massive, silicified layers in metamorphic environments. Collectors value it for its deep, silky luster and the way it shifts appearance when moved under light.
Is this hawk's eye?
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 hawk's eye with a known reference. Hawk's Eye 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. Hawk's Eye leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hawk's Eye typically shows a silky luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, blue-gray, blue-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: fibrous, massive.
Often confused with
Hawk's Eye vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside hawk's eye
Minerals reported to co-occur with hawk's eye. 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
- 2.64-2.71 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Silky
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Iron-rich Quartz Deposits
- Typical price
- $5-50 for cabochons and tumbled stones, higher for large polished specimens
Where rockhounds find hawk's eye
Classic worldwide localities
- Griqualand West, South Africa
- Western Australia
- India
- Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic iron-rich quartz deposits country — that is the host setting where hawk's eye typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, hematite, goethite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hawk's eye on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
