aventurescence

{{Short description|Optical reflectance effect seen in certain gems}}

File:Goldfluss (Aventuringlas).jpg

In gemology, aventurescence (sometimes called aventurization) is an optical reflectance effect seen in certain gems. The effect amounts to a metallic glitter, arising from minute, preferentially oriented mineral platelets within the material. These platelets are so numerous that they also influence the material's body colour. In aventurine quartz, chrome-bearing fuchsite produces a green stone, and various iron oxides produce a red stone.

The words aventurine and aventurescence derive from the Italian "a ventura", meaning "by chance". This is an allusion to the chance discovery of aventurine glass (goldstone) at some point in the 18th century. Goldstone is still manufactured today as an artificial imitation of the later discoveries aventurine quartz and aventurine feldspar (sunstone).