Green Aventurine is a variety of quartz containing small flakes of Fuchsite mica that create its distinctive sparkly appearance. The green color comes from Chromium within these mica inclusions, which range from pale to deep forest green depending on chromium concentration.
This gemstone forms through hydrothermal processes in metamorphic rock environments, where silica-rich solutions crystallize around existing mica crystals. The signature shimmer, called Aventurescence, occurs when light reflects off the flat surfaces of the oriented mica flakes embedded throughout the quartz matrix.
With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and specific gravity of 2.65, Green Aventurine exhibits good durability and workability. The quality depends on the even distribution and size of the mica inclusions—the finest specimens show consistent sparkle without excessive fracturing of the host quartz.
Primary sources include metamorphic terranes in India's Karnataka region, Brazil's Minas Gerais, and Russia's Ural Mountains, where the specific geological conditions favour the formation of well-developed Fuchsite inclusions within massive quartz bodies. The stone's translucent to opaque appearance and metallic luster make it readily distinguishable from other green quartz.
