Structure

Aventurine is a form of quartz, characterized by its translucency and the presence of platy mineral inclusions that give a shimmering or glistening effect termed aventurescence.

The most common colour of aventurine is green, but it may also be orange, brown, yellow, blue, or grey. Chrome-bearing fuchsite (a variety of muscovite mica) is the classic inclusion, and gives a silvery green or blue sheen. Oranges and browns are attributed to hematite or goethite. Because aventurine is a rock, its physical properties vary: its specific gravity may lie between 2.64-2.69 and its hardness is somewhat lower than single-crystal quartz at around 6.5.

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 lucky discovery of aventurine glass or goldstone at some point in the 18th century. One story runs that this kind of glass was originally made accidentally at Murano by a workman, who let some copper filings fall into the molten “metal,” whence the product was called avventurino. From the Murano glass the name passed to the mineral, which displayed a rather similar appearance. 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 flecks 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 Chennai) where it is employed by prolific artisans. Creamy white, gray and orange material is found in Chile, Spain and Russia. Most material is carved into beads and figurines with only the finer examples fashioned into cabochons, later being set into jewelry. [en.wikipedia.org]

Reported Benefits

• Channels the energy of love, luck, prosperity, and emotional wellbeing.
• Amplifies the creative abilities of oneself.
• Is a solid grounding stone as it has a strong connection to the Earth.
• Reinforces one's sense of self and disseminates positivity.
• Provides the possessor with a heightened sense of dedication, perseverance and determination.
• Is a stone of rejuvenation as it enlivens and vitalizes.
• Harbors in new growth and optimism.
• Very effective in meditation especially when transitioning between meditations.
• Provides one with strength, perseverance, and self confidence.
• Balances the masculine and feminine energies.

LORE

• Known as a powerful stone of luck and serendipity. 
• Protects one from electromagnetic energy and radiation.
• Calms the spiritual and emotional energies. 
• Has been revered to increase one's likelihood in games of chance and gambling.
• Known to help with a variety of metaphysical aspirations.
• Helps sharpen coordination and decreases hyperactivity.
• Closely associated to the Heart Chakra.
• Invokes a stronger connection to one's guardian angel depending on date of birth.
• It bestows the power of wood energy providing new beginnings, growth, and expansion.
• Improves vision especially nearsightedness.
• Used in ceremonies of the medicine wheel to form a more loving connection to one's spirit guide through light.
• Is said to be extremely beneficial when attempting to conceive a baby.
• Those who preform witchcraft have been known to use the stone in spirit work, evocations, and invocations. 

Historical Figures Who Used Aventurine

• Kuan Yin, the Chinese Goddess of Unconditional Love and Mercy.
• Persephone, the Greek Goddess of Spring.
• Dione, the Phoenician Goddess of Earth.
• Tara, the Buddhist Goddess of Savior (the Savioress).