Natural South African Tiger Eye Stone 4.93 Carat (5.42 Ratti) Eye Shape Cabochon

Natural South African Tiger Eye Stone – 4.93 Carat (5.42 Ratti)

This Natural South African Tiger Eye Stone weighs exactly 4.93 Carats (5.42 Ratti) with calibrated dimensions of 13.6 x 7.9 x 6.7 mm. Cut and polished into an exquisite Eye Shape Cabochon, this Earth-mined gem displays rich golden-yellow, warm honey, and mahogany-brown bands with a lustrous, silky chatoyant sheen that shifts across the curved dome under incident light.

Mineralogical Identity & Geological Formation: Tiger Eye is a fascinating pseudomorphic variety of Quartz (SiO₂). Over geological epochs, silica-rich solutions infiltrated and progressively replaced parallel, fibrous seams of the blue amphibole asbestos mineral crocidolite (riebeckite). During this pseudomorphic mineral transformation, iron in the original crocidolite oxidized into hydrated iron oxides (Limonite and Goethite), imparting the gemstone's hallmark golden-brown pigmentation while perfectly preserving the fibrous orientation that generates optical chatoyancy. It exhibits a spot refractive index of ~1.54, a specific gravity of 2.64 to 2.71, and a durable Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7.0 with no cleavage planes.

Cultural Legacy & Traditional Context: Known historically across ancient Roman legions as a warrior stone for clear vision, and known in Hindi lapidary trade as Chitti or Cheeta Stone, Tiger Eye holds an enduring place in gemstone traditions. In Vedic astrological practices, it is celebrated as an accessible, earthier secondary substitute (Upratna) for Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye (Lehsuniya) associated with Ketu. It is popularly mounted in Sterling Silver (925 Silver), Panchdhatu, or yellow gold bezels for daily rings and pendants.

Please Note: Ratna Gems shares these historical, cultural, and gemological details solely for educational awareness. We sell all gemstones strictly on the basis of verified physical authenticity, mineral quality, and accredited laboratory certification, and make no astrological, metaphysical, or curative claims.

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