How do you care for tiger iron?

It rates 6.5 to 7 (varies by band) on the Mohs scale. Clean it with warm water and a soft cloth, and keep it out of ultrasonic tanks and steamers.

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A stone guide

Tiger Iron

Q: What is often mistaken for tiger iron?

Tiger's eye. Plain tiger eye lacks the metallic gray and red bands and feels lighter.

Tiger iron's stripes are oxygen's birth certificate, banded iron formed as early photosynthesis first rusted Earth's oceans.

Metamorphic (banded iron formation)AustraliaSee treatment disclosure

Tiger Iron is metamorphic (banded iron formation), (tiger eye + hematite + red jasper). In the hand, it rates 6.5 to 7 (varies by band) on the Mohs scale, and it runs golden chatoyant and steel gray. Triple-striped stone: golden tiger-eye silk, metallic gray hematite, and brick-red jasper in alternating bands, noticeably heavy.

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Tiger Iron, in stock now.

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Tiger Iron Crystal Mushroom

A Grade | 6.03″ H x 3.73″ Dia

NORTHERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

GROUNDING◇CONFIDENCE◇ENERGY

$70

Tiger Iron Crystal Mushroom

A Grade | 7.31″ H x 3.28″ Dia

NORTHERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

GROUNDING◇CONFIDENCE◇ENERGY

$72

4.9 out of 5from 1,000+ reviews
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Metamorphic (banded iron formation)

Mohs

6.5 to 7 (varies by band)

Luster

Silky and metallic banded

Gravity

3.0 to 4.0 (iron-rich)

Light

Opaque

What it is

The geology.

Tiger Iron carries the formula (tiger eye + hematite + red jasper). It has no single crystal system. It is classed as metamorphic (banded iron formation).

It sits at 6.5 to 7 (varies by band) on the Mohs scale. The surface reads silky and metallic banded. Light behavior is opaque. Specific gravity runs 3.0 to 4.0 (iron-rich). The streak is red-brown (hematite bands). It breaks with breaks along banding.

Triple-striped stone: golden tiger-eye silk, metallic gray hematite, and brick-red jasper in alternating bands, noticeably heavy.

It turns up mostly as tumbled, palm stones, cabochons or spheres.

Where it comes from

The origins.

Pilbara region, Western Australia, banded iron formations ~2.5 billion years old.

On value, the database notes: common and affordable.

What people work with it for

Traditional associations.

In energy work traditions, associated with stamina and grounded strength.

This is lore, and we label it as lore. The measurable facts are further up the page.

What to look for

Spotting the real thing.

Triple-striped stone: golden tiger-eye silk, metallic gray hematite, and brick-red jasper in alternating bands, noticeably heavy.

Looks like	How to tell them apart
Tiger's eye	Plain tiger eye lacks the metallic gray and red bands and feels lighter
Hematite	Hematite alone has no golden silk
Picture jasper	No chatoyancy, no metallic bands

Check it yourself

At-home tests.

A loupe and a window seat settle most questions about tiger iron. No workshop required.

Test	What you should see
By eye	Heavy in hand (hematite content)
By eye	Chatoyant gold bands + metallic gray bands together
By eye	Red-brown streak from hematite layers

Stop short of anything that leaves a mark. A gemologist can answer the rest without damaging the stone.

How to live with it

Care & handling.

At 6.5 to 7 (varies by band) on the Mohs scale it handles careful wear but scratches against quartz and dust. Store it separately and take rings off before rough work.

It breaks with breaks along banding, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.

Skip the ultrasonic. Lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth handle routine cleaning without risk.

Pairs well with.

For the serious reader

A deeper look.

Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.

The physical record

The formula on record is (tiger eye + hematite + red jasper). Crystal system: not applicable. Specific gravity: 3.0 to 4.0 (iron-rich). Streak: Red-brown (hematite bands). Cleavage and fracture: Breaks along banding.

How it reaches the market

Pilbara region, Western Australia, banded iron formations ~2.5 billion years old.

What it gets confused with

Tiger's eye: Plain tiger eye lacks the metallic gray and red bands and feels lighter. Hematite: Hematite alone has no golden silk. Picture jasper: No chatoyancy, no metallic bands.

What it is worth

Common and affordable.

One more thing

Tiger iron's stripes are oxygen's birth certificate, banded iron formed as early photosynthesis first rusted Earth's oceans.

From the Beyond Bohemian library

An education-first guide.

We publish this guide from our research and years of experience with crystals, so you can understand this stone wherever you find it.

Explore the Crystal Guide

Tiger Iron

Tiger Iron, in stock now.

The geology.

The origins.

Traditional associations.

Spotting the real thing.

At-home tests.

Care & handling.

Pairs well with.

A deeper look.

The physical record

How it reaches the market

What it gets confused with

What it is worth

One more thing

An education-first guide.

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Tiger Iron

The geology.

The origins.

Traditional associations.

Spotting the real thing.

At-home tests.

Care & handling.

Pairs well with.

A deeper look.

The physical record

How it reaches the market

What it gets confused with

What it is worth

One more thing

An education-first guide.

Most items are one of one or come in limited batches. See them, and the stories behind them, before anyone else.