Golden tiger eye and red tiger eye are chatoyant varieties of the silica-impregnated metamorphic rock formed when crocidolite (blue asbestos) fibers are gradually replaced by quartz while retaining the fibrous structure that produces a silky, cat’s-eye sheen. Golden tiger eye shows warm yellow-to-golden-brown tones from iron oxides in the silica replacement, while red tiger eye displays deeper reddish-brown hues produced by oxidation or by intentional heat treatment of golden material; both exhibit the characteristic parallel fibrous chatoyancy. Major sources include South Africa, Western Australia, India, Namibia, and Brazil, where they occur in metamorphosed iron-rich sediments and residual gravels.

Metaphysically, golden and red tiger eye are prized for grounding, protection, and stabilizing energy: golden tiger eye is often associated with mental clarity, willpower, confidence, and practical decision-making (linked to the solar plexus), while red tiger eye emphasizes vitality, motivation, courage, and physical energy (linked to the root and sacral areas). Practitioners use them to balance yin/yang energies, reduce anxiety, boost focus and determination, and support prosperity and personal empowerment; they are commonly carried, worn, or used in meditation and energy-work for resilience and action-oriented clarity.