RocksdayJasper vs Tiger's Eye
How to tell them apart
Opaque, impurity-rich microcrystalline quartz. Iron oxides give the classic brick red, but jasper comes in nearly every earthy color and pattern.
Photo: Tommy from Arad, CC BY 2.0
Golden-brown quartz with a silky, shifting band of light (chatoyancy) caused by parallel fibers inside.
Photo: Marek Novotnak, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick tests
- Streak (rub on unglazed porcelain): Jasper leaves a white streak; Tiger's Eye leaves white to brown.
Key differences
- Jasper is opaque with no moving silky shimmer.
Side by side
| Property | Jasper | Tiger's Eye |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 | 6.5–7 |
| Luster | Dull to waxy | Silky |
| Streak | White | White to brown |
| Colors | Red, Brown, Yellow, Green | Gold, Brown, Yellow |
| Crystal system | Microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony) | Fibrous quartz |
| Specific gravity | 2.5–2.9 | 2.64–2.71 |
| Formula | SiO₂ + impurities | SiO₂ |
| Found in | Oregon and Idaho; India | Northern Cape, South Africa; Western Australia |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify jasper
- Completely opaque, even at thin edges.
- Solid earthy colors, often red, sometimes patterned.
- Hard — scratches glass.
- Smooth, curved fracture surfaces.
Crystal system: Microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony)
Full Jasper guide →How to identify tiger's eye
- Gold and brown stripes that shimmer and move as you tilt it.
- Silky luster, especially when polished.
- Hard — scratches glass.
Crystal system: Fibrous quartz
Full Tiger's Eye guide →More comparisons
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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