RocksdayAventurine vs Sunstone
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
Feldspar glittering with tiny metallic platelets of copper or hematite that catch the light like sparks.
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
Key differences
- Aventurine is quartz, usually green, with mica glitter.
Side by side
| Property | Aventurine | Sunstone |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 | 6–6.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous | Vitreous |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Green, Blue, Orange | Orange, Red, Yellow |
| Crystal system | Granular quartz | Triclinic |
| Specific gravity | 2.64–2.69 | 2.62–2.72 |
| Formula | SiO₂ + mica inclusions | (Ca,Na)(Al,Si)₄O₈ |
| Found in | India; Brazil | Lake County, Oregon; Tvedestrand, Norway |
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 sunstone
- Orange to red feldspar with a coppery glitter (aventurescence).
- Sparkles flash as the stone is turned.
- Hardness about 6 with flat cleavage faces.
Crystal system: Triclinic
Full Sunstone guide →More comparisons
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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