What on Earth Is Red Aventurine?

Red Aventurine is a glittering red to brown form of quartz, coloured by tiny hematite and goethite inclusions that give it a shimmer called aventurescence. In crystal lore it is a stone of motivation and energy, and it is popular as tumbled stones, beads and carvings.

Below you will find its physical properties, history and lore, plus the metaphysical meanings people associate with it.

Ready for the details? Start with what it is made of.

The Physical Properties of Red Aventurine

Aventurine is the name given to the translucent (sometimes nearly opaque) species of Quartz. It has flake-shaped inclusions that produce in it a shimmering appearance, an effect called aventurescence. This effect is more pronounced when Aventurine is tumbled and polished.

Ranging from light to a deep red, the colour of Red Aventurine is caused by the hematite and goethite present in the stone. In terms of hardness, Aventurine is rated 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, harder than a steel knife blade.

Like other quartz, it breaks with a conchoidal fracture.

The History of Red Aventurine

Aventurine was first discovered in the 1700s. The name Aventurine is derived from the Italian word avventura meaning ˜by chance,' an allusion to its chance discovery.

History has it that by accident, a Venetian glass maker dropped metal filings into a vat containing melting glass. After cooling, it produced a glass that glistened all throughout.

Later on, the natural stone was called ˜Aventurine' due to its semblance to that shimmering glass. Red Aventurine can be found anywhere in the world, but the most popular sources are found in India, Russia, Brazil, Nepal, and Italy.

Many centuries ago, Tibetans used Aventurine to adorn statues. They put the stone in their eyes, believing that the glimmer of Aventurine could boost a statue's visionary powers.

In the 19^th century, Aventurine was called the ˜Stone of the Amazons' as they were believed to be the jewels that Amazon warrior queens used. It was also used to make bowls, vases, and small sculptures.

The Lore of Red Aventurine

In Native American cultures, Aventurine is said to have featured in rituals built around the sacred circle of some Native American traditions.

In these rituals, participants hold the stone to the heart as a symbol of love.

Aventurine is also a traditional luck stone. Folk custom says that carrying Red Aventurine in a red pouch with a pinch of ginger or cinnamon is a charm for money. Another tradition is to hold a small stone, name a wish, and throw it as far as you can, so that whoever finds it is lucky too.

Aventurine is the zodiac stone for people born under the sign Virgo.

The Metaphysical Properties of Red Aventurine

In crystal lore, Red Aventurine is a stone of vitality and drive, and people often keep it on a desk or altar as a reminder of their goals. It is traditionally linked with courage, confidence and enthusiasm, and with balancing masculine and feminine energies. These are symbolic associations, not effects on the body or mind.