Aventurine is a silica rich rock, most commonly green in color but also occurring in red-orange, brown, yellow, blue and gray varieties, depending on the chemical impurities present when the stone formed. The most common inclusion is Fuschite, which contains chrome. This gives Aventurine a green or blue color and a characteristic silvery shimmer known as 'aventurescence'. Orange and brown colors are caused by the presence of Hematite or Goethite. Glittering orange Aventurine is sometimes sold as 'Sunstone'. Although genuine Sunstone is chemically similar it usually has better transparency and a glitzier sparkle than Aventurine.

Because Aventurine is a rock rather than a crystal each piece is unique and their physical properties will vary slightly. Specific gravity is usually between 2.64 and 2.69 and hardness is around 6.5 on Moh's Scale.

The name Aventurine derives from the Italian 'a ventura', meaning 'by chance', referring to the accidental discovery of Goldstone (also known as Aventurine Glass) in the 18th century. Artificial Goldstone and natural Aventurine are easy to tell apart; Goldstone has a solid, dense color and an unnaturally neat and uniform dispersion of bright, sparkling copper inclusions. The majority of green and blue toned Aventurine on the market comes from India, particularly in the vicinity of Mysore and Madras. Creamy white, gray and orange Aventurine is found in Chile, Spain and Russia.

Aventurine is usually classified as an earth stone and it is one of the best crystals to use for success in any goal governed by elemental Earth, including wealth and prosperity, protection, stability, strength, endurance and independence.

According to folklore Aventurine is one of the favorite stones of the Fair Folk. It is a useful crystal to keep near you if you study Faerie Magic or want to learn how to communicate with elemental beings like Devas, Nature Spirits and Power Animals. Aventurine makes a wonderful gift or 'sacrifice' to Nature, and according to some magic users a piece left as a gift creates an energetic connection with the landscape (see Aventurine Workings, below).

Aventurine gives the gifts of optimism, perseverance and patience. It can help you find the focus and determination needed to keep working towards your goals, no matter how distant or impossible they may seem. Aventurine is said to help you recognize and appreciate your right to happiness, health and prosperity, enabling you to give up feelings of fear or unworthiness that hold you back from being all you can be.

Aventurine has been a popular fertility charm for hundreds of years. Although traditionally used to encourage pregnancy the crystal can also be used magically to conceive and give birth to goals, projects and works of art. Keeping a piece of Aventurine in the bedroom and sleeping with it under your pillow is believed to be helpful - some sources recommend a rounded stone for women and an oval or long stone for men, mirroring the sexual symbolism found in many ancient fertility rituals and sacred sites.

When used for crystal healing Aventurine is said to concentrate the healing power of the Green Earth, and can be used to draw Earth energy into your body any time you feel depressed or lethargic. Aventurine is a gentle healing stone, believed to be helpful for healing old traumas and emotional wounds.