AllMineralsRock
Agate Vs. Tigers Eye
Agate is a very popular gemstone composed of silicon dioxide.[1] Tigers eye is a popular gemstone tiger's eye and its chemical composition is also silicon dioxide.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Agate and Tigers Eye
For a quick recap of the differences agate and tigers eye:- While both agate and tigers eye can be opaque, agate can be translucent or transparent.
- While both agate and tigers eye can be hexagonal, in terms of crystallography, agate can be trigonal.
- In terms of luster, agate can be greasy, vitreous or waxy while tigers eye is silky.
- Agate streaks white while tigers eye streaks brown or yellow.
- Agate can be commonly red or white while tigers eye can be commonly brown, multicolor or yellow.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Agate and Tigers Eye
The similarities of agate and tigers eye include:- For chemical formulas, agate and tigers eye both are SiO2.
- Agate's rarity is similar to tigers eye.
- Agate's hardness overlaps with tigers eye - agate ranges from 6.5 to 7 and tigers eye is 7 on the Moh's scale.
Summary of Agate
Agate is a mineral that belongs to the quartz family. It is typically found in volcanic rocks and is characterized by its banded appearance, which is caused by the deposition of different minerals in layers. The mineral is identified by its hardness, which ranges from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and its translucent to opaque appearance. While agate is typically associated with shades of brown and gray, it can also be found in a variety of colors, including blue, green, pink, purple, and red.Summary of Tigers Eye
Tigers Eye is a mineral that belongs to the quartz family and is known for its unique golden-brown color with stripes that resemble those of a tiger. It is a metamorphic rock that is formed by the alteration of crocidolite, a blue asbestos mineral. The crocidolite fibers are replaced by quartz, which gives the stone its characteristic golden brown color.Table Comparison of Agate vs Tigers Eye
| Agate (src) | Tigers Eye (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | opaque |
| Chemical Formula | SiO2 | SiO2 |
| Chemical Composition | silicon dioxide | silicon dioxide |
| Hardness | 6.5, 7 | 7 |
| Streak | white | yellow, brown |
| Crystallography | hexagonal, trigonal | hexagonal |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: red, white sometimes: blue, gray, pink, black, brown, green, banded, orange, purple, yellow, multicolor |
common: brown, yellow, multicolor |