Aventurine

Aventurine, often called "poor man's Emerald" is a nice affordable stone. When it has inclusions, they appear to be sparkles. Extremely high quality aventurine (free from inclusions), can seem like emerald. It is wonderful for everyday wear as it is quite durable as well as pretty.

Aventurine Information

Aventurine is assumed to be green unless stated. It also comes in blue or orange. Keep translucent aventurine out of the sun as it will often fade.

This form of Cryptocrystaline Quartz contains inclusions of small crystals that reflect light and give a range of colors - depending on the nature of the inclusion. Hence aventurine may be green, greenish-brown, blueish-white, bluish green and orange. Aventurine has a hardness rating of 7.

Aventurine can look like jade or amazonite. Dark green Aventurine usually has inclusions (because of the green fuchsite mica and sometimes a bit of pyrite) which makes a speckled appearance. This identifying feature is often called aventurescence.

Aventurine is found in Brazil, India, Japan, Russia, Tanzania, and USA.

Aventurine is said to be good for physical healing.

Long ago, there was a custom of assigning various Masculine and Feminine Saints with certain gems for use in talismans. The name Andrew (ie. patron Saint Andrew) is associated with Aventurine.