By Chisom Ibemere
The hawk’s eye stone is fibrous quartz, technically classified as a quartz pseudomorph that began life as crocidolite.
Generally, it’s an opaque or slightly translucent stone that readily accepts a polish, resulting in a nice sheen. Additionally, the fibrous elements create a visual effect known as chatoyancy.
Hawk’s eye is typically blue, with some pieces leaning toward gray while others may appear slightly green. The coloring is a result of reduced iron levels as the crocidolite transforms. When the iron levels remain high, the color ends up golden, and that version is called tiger’s eye.
Primarily, hawk’s eye is found in South Africa and Thailand, and those locations serve as the main sources of commercial hawk’s eye.
However, deposits have also been in Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Korea, Myanmar, Namibia, Spain, and the United States.
Hawk’s Eye, also known as Blue Tiger’s Eye, is a gemstone with a rich history and several notable properties. It is a type of quartz that belongs to the chalcedony family.
It is a variety of Tiger’s Eye that undergoes oxidation, resulting in a blue-gray color. The stone is mainly found in South Africa, Australia, India, Brazil, and the United States.
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Hawk’s Eye occurs when quartz fibers are replaced by crocidolite minerals and later transformed into quartz. This process creates a chatoyant effect, giving the stone its distinctive silky appearance.
Hawk’s Eye is basically used in decoration and in Jewellery production. It is often fashioned into cabochons or beads for pendants, rings, bracelets, and earrings. The stone is also sometimes used in carving and ornamental objects.
Hawk’s Eye exhibits a blue-gray colour, often with a silky sheen. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively durable and suitable for jewellery.
It is typically opaque or translucent, depending on the quality and cut of the stone. The size of Hawk’s Eye can vary, but it is commonly found in small to medium-sized stones.
The value of Hawk’s Eye is determined by various factors, including color intensity, clarity, size, and overall appearance.
Generally, high-quality stones with intense color and strong chatoyancy can demand higher prices.
However, Hawk’s Eye is relatively affordable compared to other gemstones, making it accessible to a wide range of buyers.
Hawk’s Eye is a popular gemstone that combines the captivating chatoyancy of Tiger’s Eye with a unique blue-gray color. Its eye-catching appearance and affordability have contributed to its popularity in the jewelry market.
