Commonly known as a "
cat's eye"
gemstone, this is where impurities (
inclusions) of a different color than the rest of the
gem line up like needles down the center of the
crystal structure, giving the effect of a cat's long
pupil in the middle of the gem. Variant names for the phenomemon in different-colored stones are
tiger's eye and
hawk's eye. Related to
asterism and
aventurescence.