Aventurine is a mineral with a hardness of 7 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness [?]. These Trigonally structured gems are made of silicon dioxide, their full chemical compound being SiO2.

Aventurine is a quartz mineral that is most often used to crave ornate animal or spiritual figures. Aventurescence is a term used to describe the shimmering of this stone that is caused by mica inclusions. The color is almost always green, however sometimes it is blue, or green with hints of blue, or brown.

Aventurine is ideal for the carving of figures, but not the best material in the world for working into a clear gem. In our oppinion Aventurine has been treated very much like jade or jadenite in terms of it's many usages. Gems are usually polished round, with a rare few being cut into stones with facets.

To be perfectly honest Aventurine is not simply a quartz but rather a conglomerate of mostly quartz and other inclusions. This gem is very affordable unless carved into an ornate figurine in which case you will most likely be paying a premium for the artist work, and not so much the raw material.

What causes Aventurine's sparkle effect?

The characteristic glitter or sparkle (called aventurescence) comes from tiny mica or fuchsite inclusions. This natural phenomenon gave rise to the term "aventurescence" which is now used to describe similar effects in other stones.

Why is green Aventurine more common than other colors?

Green aventurine gets its color from fuchsite mica inclusions, which are more common in nature. Other colors like blue (from dumortierite), red/brown (from hematite), or orange (from citrine) are rarer.

Is Indian Aventurine different from others?

Indian aventurine, particularly from Gujarat, is known for its superior green color and strong sparkle. It's considered the industry standard and supplies most of the world's fine aventurine used in jewelry and ornamental objects.

How can I tell genuine Aventurine from glass?

Natural aventurine shows random sparkle patterns and is cooler to touch than glass. Glass imitations (like goldstone) show more uniform sparkle and often appear too orangey. Natural pieces may have varying transparency levels.

Why is some Aventurine more transparent than others?

Transparency varies based on the concentration of included minerals. Clearer specimens have fewer inclusions but may show less sparkle. The most valued pieces balance transparency with good aventurescence.

Are there any natural blue Aventurines?

Blue aventurine is natural but rare, colored by included dumortierite minerals. Most commercial blue "aventurine" is actually dyed. Natural blue specimens command higher prices due to their rarity.

What determines Aventurine's value?

Value depends on color intensity, amount of sparkle (aventurescence), and transparency. Green specimens with strong, evenly distributed sparkle and good transparency are most valued. Size matters less than quality of effect.

The specific gravity [?] for Aventurine is 2.65, its refractive index [?] is 1.54-1.55, and its double refraction [?] is 0.009.

History

The words "a ventura" is Italian for by chance, and has been used for lucky charms.

Has historically been found in the United States, Brazil, Russia, Tanzania, and other places.

Industrial Usages

Aventurine is widely used in carvings as it's color and hardness lend it well to carving.