Amazonite vs Aventurine (The Key Differences)

Even though both amazonite and aventurine look similar, there are some distinct differences to know about, both physically as well as metaphysically.

In today’s guide, let’s talk about the in-depth differences between the two stones.

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What are the differences between amazonite and aventurine?

Colors

First, let’s take a look at the colors.

Both of these stones are mostly a blue/green in color, but there are a few differences to note.

In an amazonite stone, the lead within creates the natural blue colors, whereas aventurine gets its colors from a chrome fuchsite, which makes it green.  However, other colors, such as yellow and/or gray can display as well in an aventurine crystal.  This color, as with all crystals, greatly depends on how the stone was formed over the hundreds of thousands of years.

Let’s stress here that amazonite will only ever be a green/blue combo, mainly bluish-green to green, however, aventurine can be much more than that.  This can include blue, green, orange, yellow, gray and mix in-between.

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Hardness

Both are somewhat similar in terms of hardness.

Aventurine is similar to that of quartz, so this means it will be about a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness.  Amazonite, on the other hand, is a 6, which makes it a pinch more brittle.

To put in perspective for those unfamiliar with the Mohs scale, the higher the number, the tougher it is in regards to scratch resistance.  So, a diamond, being a 10, will be much more scratch resistant, than say, talc, which is only a 1.

If you have a higher number and it’s scratched against a lower number, say an Aventurine against an Amazonite, then scratches can appear.

All stones are susceptible to damage, of course, but if you want a slightly tougher stone, lean toward an aventurine.

Mining Locations

Amazonite was said to be named after the Amazon River, however, no deposits have ever been located there.  Instead, you will mainly find it in Brazil, Ethiopia, Madagascar, India and the United States, to name a few.

Aventurine, on the other hand, is found mainly in India, but smaller deposits can be found in other parts of the world.

Patterns

The unique thing about aventurine is that it has a unique glittering effect, which is a result of some metal inclusions, commonly referred to as aventurescence.  Amazonite will not have this.

Also, aventurine is slightly translucent, which simply means light passes through when you hold it to the light.  Amazonite, however, is opaque, which has the opposite effect, where no light comes through.

One thing that needs to be noted is that dyed aventurine does exist on the market.  To figure out if it was, indeed, dyed, look for a very bright-like color.  If it’s brighter than what you feel is natural, then you should suspect that it has been dyed and it’s not natural.

Lastly, amazonite will have more of a cracking look, which will result in slight white stripes.  Buyers tend to look for fewer white stripes as this can determine the quality.  The fewer the white streaks, the higher the quality is considered to be.  Aventurine very rarely has this white cracking effect, but if it does, the cracks are much larger than that of amazonite.

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Metaphysical Differences

Visually, both of these stones do look similar and they share similar energies as well.  Spiritualists believe these stones can bring a calming sensation as well as help with your communication.

Each stone has its property, but there are some differences to know about.  Remember, metaphysical properties are always meant to be used intuitively and shouldn’t be used as a “for sure” thing.

Aventurine is said to be a stone of opportunity, which can help you prosper with your dreams as well as give you that independence to help you achieve whatever is motivating you at the moment.  If you’re in need of luck as well as the confidence to get things done, this is a stone to highly consider carrying around.

Amazonite, on the other hand, is said to be the stone of hope, which like aventurine in a way, will give you optimism as well as trust to continue on your dreams.  It’s also said to be a stone of truth, which can bring clarity to a situation if that’s what you’re seeking.

How can I tell aventurine and amazonite apart?

By now, you should be able to tell the differences between the two, but let’s differentiate even more.

The first thing you will want to look at is the shape.  Mostly, aventurine will be irregularly shaped like most rocks, whereas amazonite will be more of an irregularly shaped crystal, many of which are much bigger than aventurine.  By the time you have your hands on amazonite, it can be a smaller fracture piece, which often has natural flat edges from the crystal.  If it looks like a fractured crystal piece, it’s more than likely amazonite.

Color, as mentioned prior, is a big one as well.  Aventurine rarely is a shade that resembles that of a blue, whereas amazonite is more often a blue-green blend.  Again, amazonite won’t have a banding in its coloration but some small colored spots may exist.

Lastly, another way to tell the two apart is by looking at the opacity.  Aventurine will allow light to come through, whereas amazonite won’t.

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About Me

Hi! I'm Lauren, and I run Moonlight Gems AZ. I'm an avid crystal collector and would love to share my expertise with you.