Aventurescence

In gemology, aventurescence is an optical reflectance effect seen in certain gems. The effect amounts to a metallic glitter, arising from minute, preferentially oriented mineral platelets within the material. These platelets are so numerous that they also influence the material's body colour. In aventurine quartz (actually a type of quartzite) chrome-bearing fuchsite makes for a green stone, and various iron oxides make for a red stone.

The words aventurine and aventurescence derive 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. Goldstone is still manufactured today as an artificial imitation of later discoveries aventurine quartz and aventurine feldspar (sunstone). Goldstone is sometimes tinted blue, creating "bluestone."

See also: Optical phenomenon

References

• Webster, R. (2000). Gems: Their sources, descriptions and identification (5th ed.), p 231. Great Britain: Butterworth-Heinemann.