RocksdayAventurine vs Fuchsite
How to tell them apart
Quartz sparkling with tiny reflective mica flakes, most often green from chromium-rich fuchsite.
Photo: Doobuzz at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
A sparkly green chromium-rich variety of muscovite mica.
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
Quick tests
- Scratch glass: Aventurine scratches glass (Mohs 6.5–7); Fuchsite can't (Mohs 2–3).
Key differences
- Aventurine is hard quartz sprinkled with fuchsite flakes.
Side by side
| Property | Aventurine | Fuchsite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 | 2–3 |
| Luster | Vitreous | Pearly |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Green, Blue, Orange | Green |
| Crystal system | Granular quartz | Monoclinic |
| Specific gravity | 2.64–2.69 | 2.8–2.9 |
| Formula | SiO₂ + mica inclusions | K(Al,Cr)₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂ |
| Found in | India; Brazil | Minas Gerais, Brazil; India |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify aventurine
- Even green body with a fine glittery sparkle.
- Granular, sugary texture in rough pieces.
- Hard — scratches glass.
Crystal system: Granular quartz
Full Aventurine guide →How to identify fuchsite
- Emerald-green glittery flakes.
- Peels into thin, flexible sheets.
- Soft — a fingernail scratches it.
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Full Fuchsite guide →More comparisons
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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