Aventurine is the name given to a variety of quartz that has a spangled appearance due to sparkling internal reflections from uniformly oriented minute inclusions of other minerals. It is always massive; green aventurine is colored by green fuchsite mica; brown aventurine is colored by pyrite; and reddish-brown aventurine is due to hematite. Other inclusions can color the mineral orange, bluish-white, yellow, or bluish-green.Aventurine feldspar or sunstone can be confused with orange and red aventurine quartzite, although the former is generally of a higher transparency. Aventurine is often banded and an overabundance of fuchsite may render it opaque, in which case it may be mistaken for malachite at first glance.
The name aventurine derives from the Italian "a ventura," meaning "by chance." This is an allusion to the chance discovery of aventurine glass or goldstone at some point in the 18th century. Although it was known first, goldstone is now a common imitation of aventurine and sunstone. Goldstone is distinguished visually from the latter two minerals by its coarse
platelets of copper, dispersed within the glass in an unnaturally uniform manner. It is usually a golden brown, but may also be found in blue or green.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. Creamy white, gray and orange material is found in Chile, Spain and Russia.
Historically it is said that in ancient Greece aventurine was sewn into the clothes of men going to war to preserve their courage and optimism. It is said also enhance the sense of humor, cheerfulness, mental agility, peach, an open heart, motivation and promote leadership of those who wear it. It symbolizes tranquility and patience and gives the wearer inner equilibrium and stimulates dreaming.
This design is a hand-charmed cluster of aventurine surrounding a button fossil Ammonite.
Artisan crafted jewelry available on our online shop!
*Research from various mineral/rock books & websites
