Hawk’s eye

Hawk's eye
Hawk’s eye

Hawk’s eye is a blue opaque stone made of microcrystalline quartz.

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A dark blue opaque gemstone variety of microcrystalline quartz. It is a mineral that changes into another mineral over time. It was first a crocidolite and was later fossilized into  quartz. Crocidolite is a fibrous blue mineral belonging to the riebeckite family of amphibole silicates. The transformation of the stone begins as quartz slowly becomes embedded between the fibers of crocidolite.

Chatoyancy

This gemstone is famed for its chatoyancy. It looks like a eye of a hawk. It is related to tiger’s eye and pietersite, both of which exhibit similar chatoyancy. Tiger’s eye is actually formed similary with higher iron content.

Cut, treatment and imitation

Blue hawk’s eye gemstones are usually untreated or not enhanced in any way.

Gems are usually given a cabochon cut to best display their chatoyance. Red stones are developed by gentle heat treatment. Dark stones are artificially lightened to improve color using a nitric acid treatment.

Artificial fibre optic glass is a common imitation of tiger’s eye, and is produced in a wide range of colours. Tiger’s eye comes primarily from South Africa and east Asia.

Microcrystalline quartz

A microcrystalline quartz is an aggregates of crystals quartz visible only under high magnification. The cryptocrystalline varieties are either translucent or mostly opaque, while the transparent varieties tend to be macrocrystalline.

Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica consisting of fine intergrowths of both quartz, and its monoclinic polymorph moganite. Other opaque gemstone varieties of quartz, or mixed rocks including quartz, often including contrasting bands or patterns of color, are agate, carnelian or sard, onyx, heliotrope, and jasper.

Hawk’s eye stone meaning and healing properties benefits

The following section is pseudo scientific and based on cultural beliefs.

As charming nugget, this stone is acknowledged as the magical gemstone that builds a protective screen all around the torso to guard against the threats of life. Recognized to aggrandize the soul, it brings knowledge and clarity in the thoughts to see the reality of the life.

Hawk’s eye, from South Africa

Hawk’s eye under microscope

FAQ

Is hawk’s eye dangerous?

The cause of its chatoyance can be embedded fibers of asbestos, as well as actinolite fibers. Asbestos is a well known useful but hazardous material and can cause lung cancer, but its dangerous fibers are well embedded in blue hawk’s eye and cat’s eye and pose no danger for its owner.

Is blue tiger eye natural?

Yes it is. The gemstone is a very special part of the Quartz family. Unlike red tiger’s eye, which is actually a product of heat-treating gold tiger’s eye, the blue color of tiger’s eye is a naturally occurring phenomenon.

Natural hawk’s eye for sale in our shop

We make custom made hawk’s eye stone jewelry as engagement rings, necklaces, stud earrings, bracelets, pendants… Please contact us for a quote.