Red Aventurine
Quartz & Crystal Family
Red aventurine is a color variety of aventurine, a quartz-rich rock containing reflective mineral flakes. Hematite or other iron oxides supply its red to reddish-brown color and create the glittering optical effect called aventurescence.
Identity
- Material or variety
- Aventurine quartzite
- Scientific or material identity
- Quartz
- Classification
- Natural mineral or mineral variety
- Composition or formula
- SiO₂
- Crystal system or structure
- Trigonal
- Geological or manufacturing origin
- Can form in more than one geological environment, or combines several materials.
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5 to 7
- Specific gravity
- 2.65
Origins
Austria · India · Russia · Spain
Appearance & optical properties
warm brick-red quartzite with fine sparkling inclusions.
History & discovery
Aventurine is a rock variety rather than a distinct mineral. Its name comes from the Italian expression a ventura, meaning “by chance,” and was applied to the natural material because its scattered reflective grains create a distinctive sparkle.
Uses & care
- Common uses
- Red aventurine is polished into cabochons, beads, spheres, figurines, bowls, and other ornaments; broader surfaces show its evenly scattered glitter most clearly.
- Handling and cleaning
- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or brush. The quartz-rich rock resists ordinary scratches, but protect it from hard impacts, abrasive cleaners, steam, ultrasonic cleaning, and rapid temperature changes.
Jewellery
5 pieces of Red Aventurine jewellery. Learners earn each one in DigMyGem by learning words; until then it shows as a silhouette.
Ember Spark Pendant
Pendant
An imagined pendant that shows off the glitter in the stone. Aventurine sparkles because tiny mineral flakes catch the light inside it.
Firefly Brooch
Brooch
An imagined brooch shaped as a firefly, its body one glittering stone. The flecks inside look like a small held spark.
Glowstone Ring
Ring
An imagined ring set with a single glittering cabochon. Red aventurine ranges from warm orange to deep brick.
Glitterfire Drop Earrings
Earrings
Imagined earrings of red aventurine, whose tiny flakes of hematite make the orange-red stone glitter like embers.
Hearthfire Coronet
Crown
An imagined small gold coronet set with red aventurine, whose orange glitter flickers like coals in a hearth.