Actinolite Cat's Eyes are a form of the mineral actinolite that displays the rare chatoyant optical phenomenon in which fibrous inclusions reflect light in such a way as to resemble the slit pupils of a cat.
Actinolite Cat's Eye Colors
Actinolite Cat's Eyes tend to be green to yellow in color with a clear white 'eye'. Very rarely, actinolite cat's eyes can be found in colors such as white, colorless, yellow, gray, brown and black. The color is created by the presence of iron during formation.
Read more about gemstones colors here
Actinolite Cat's Eye Species
Actinolite is a type of amphibole silicate which is a common rock forming mineral most commonly found in metamorphic or igneous rocks. Other members of this mineral group include nephrite jade and, in fact, actinolite cat's eyes are sometimes misleadingly referred to as jade cat's-eyes.
Actinolite Cat's Eye Price
Actinoliote Cat's Eye gemstones are fairly inexpensive with the highest prices going to gemstones with a strong even color, a translucent body and a clear and distinctive 'pupil'.
The sizes and colors of Actinolite Cat's Eyes are fairly regular so the price per carat does not vary tremendously - most gemstones will be between $10 and $20 per carat.
For more details please refer to our full Actinolite Cat's Eye Info page here
Actinolite Cat's Eye Treatments
Actinoliote Cat's Eye gemstones are not treated in any way to enhance their appearance other than the cutting and polishing they receive.
Where are Actinolite Cat's Eyes found?
There are several locations around the world where Actinolite Cat's eyes are mined – the USA, Taiwan, Tanzania, Madagascar, Canada and Russia are among the biggest suppliers.
How are Actinolite Cat's Eyes formed?
The cat's eye effect is owed to parallel aligned fibers found within the stone. If the gemstone is cut and polished in such a way by a skilled lapidary, light will reflect off these internal fibers to create the cat's eye effect.
Actinolite Cat's Eye Clarity and Luster
Actinolite cat's eyes are typically translucent to opaque. Transparent materials are rare, but not unheard of. The luster is vitreous when cut and polished, but in crystal form, actinolite may exhibit a dull luster.
What jewelry is Actinolite Cat's Eye suitable for?
Actinolite Cat's Eyes are rated from 5.5 to 6 on Mohs hardness scale which makes them a strong enough for most items of jewelry. They are always cut and polished into cabochons – domed tops and flat bottoms – so they have no sharp edges or points that can be chipped or broken.
With their oval or round shapes they are ideal for dramatic rings or pendants but the only real limit to their use in jewelry is the imagination.