Pietersite is a brecciated variety of tiger’s-eye that forms in association with banded iron formations and jasper. It comes primarily from Namibia and, more recently, China. It commonly exhibits various shades of color, ranging from blue to gray and red to yellow and brown.
General Information
Common Name
Pietersite
Species
Quartz
Transparency
Semitranslucent - Opaque
Dispersion
Strength: None
Refractive Index
1.544-1.553
Tolerance:very constant
Tolerance:very constant
Birefringence
0.004
Optic Character
Uniaxial
Optic Sign
Positive
Polariscope Reaction
Aggregate (AGG)
Fluorescence
SWUV: Inert
LWUV: Inert
LWUV: Inert
Pleochroism
None
Hardness
6.5-7
Specific Gravity
2.500-2.740 Typical:2.660
Toughness
Good
Inclusions
Pietersite's broken up undulating chatoyant fibrous structure was caused by geologic stresses.
Luster
Vitreous
Stability
Good
Fracture
Splintery
Cleavage
None
Chemical Name
silicon dioxide (aka silica)
Chemical Formula
SiO2
Crystal System
Trigonal
Chemistry Classification
Silicate
Pietersite Colors
-
Blue
-
Brown
-
Gray
-
Multi-color
-
Red
-
Yellow
Countries of Origin
Unknown; China; Namibia; South Africa; Madagascar
Care
Normal care