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Rockhound Times

Your one-stop shop for rock and geology news, collecting sites, and essential rockhounding equipment.
Welcome to Rockhound Times, where you can browse through dozens of detailed gem and fossil collecting localities, find recent news of interest to the rockhounding and geology communities, and even stock up on the essential books and gear that any well-equipped rockhound should have.

We believe that rockhounding should be a hobby that is open to all, and with that in mind, we've set out to share the rock and gem collecting sites with the world. From tiny roadside stops to major, well-known collecting sites, you can find it at Rockhound Times.

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Rockhound Dictionary: Chatoyance

2/9/2016

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Chatoyancy or chatoyance, also known as the "cat's eye effect", is a visual effect seen in certain minerals, such as Tiger's Eye. When polished, chatoyant stones exhibit a bright streak of light that seems to move as you turn it.

Chatoyancy appears in minerals that have a fibrous nature, or fibrous inclusions. When the fibers are all aligned in the same direction, they reflect a streak of light that runs perpendicular to the alignment of the fibers.

The cabochon form - a smooth, polished dome-shape - is used to display chatoyancy. Make sure the fibers are aligned parallel with the base of the stone, for the best effect.

Quartz frequently displays this effect, as does beryl,  tourmaline, moonstone, and scapolite. Rarely, nephrite jade shows chatoyancy, particularly the material from the Big Sur Coast. Although beautiful, chatoyant jade can prove somewhat fragile and difficult to work with.

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