History and belief
The name comes from the Italian a ventura, “by chance”. In the 18th century glassmakers on Murano accidentally let copper filings fall into molten glass. The result was a glittering glass, and the stone was later named after it.
In modern crystal tradition green aventurine is the stone of luck and growth. Many carry it to job interviews, into new projects or whenever they try their luck.
What many people say
Many use aventurine as a reminder to look for opportunities. Its green colour and sparkle make it a cheerful stone to keep on the desk.
What the stone really is
Aventurine is not a single crystal but quartzite, a rock of interlocking quartz grains. Its green colour and glitter come from tiny flakes of fuchsite, a chromium-bearing mica. The glitter is called aventurescence.
Its hardness is around 6.5, a little softer than pure quartz. Most green aventurine comes from India.
Research has not found that crystals work beyond the placebo effect. Read about crystals and research