8 interesting facts about aventurine
- Aventurine is a form of quartz, characterised by its translucency and the presence of platy mineral inclusions that give a shimmering or glistening effect termed aventurescence.
- Aventurine is sometimes found in a reddish brown color, which is caused by inclusions of goethite or hematite.
- The appearance of this green variety of quartz is characterized by a spangled or glittery aventurescent effect that can be seen when the stone is rotated in front of a light. This is caused by inclusions of different minerals, mainly platelets of green fuchsite.
- The most common colour of aventurine is green, but it may also be orange, brown, yellow, blue, or gray.
- Green aventurine quartz is often dyed or sold as jade or nephrite jade. Selling it as any variety of jade is completely forbidden. Real jade is very rare in these colors.
- The name aventurine derives from the Italian "a ventura" meaning "by chance". This is an allusion to the lucky discovery of aventurine glass or goldstone at some point in the 18th century.
- The majority of green and blue-green aventurine originates in India (particularly in the vicinity of Mysore and Madras) where it is employed by prolific artisans.
- Main markets for aventurine are landscape stone, building stone, aquaria, monuments, and jewellery.
