Aventurine Vs. Jade

Aventurine is a popular gemstone composed of silicon dioxide.^[1] Jade is a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is sodium aluminum silicate.^[2]

Quick Facts on Differences of Aventurine and Jade

For a quick recap of the differences aventurine and jade:

• In terms of crystallography, aventurine is hexagonal while jade is monoclinic.
• For chemical formulas, aventurine is SiO2 while jade is NaAlSi2O6.
• Aventurine streaks colorless while jade streaks white.
• While both aventurine and jade can be commonly green, aventurine is often blue, brown, gray, orange or yellow.

Quick Facts on Similarities of Aventurine and Jade

The similarities of aventurine and jade include:

• Aventurine and jade both can be opaque or translucent.
• In terms of luster, aventurine and jade both can be vitreous or waxy.
• Aventurine's rarity is similar to jade.

Summary of Aventurine

Aventurine is a mineral that belongs to the quartz family and is known for its shimmering effect. It is a translucent to opaque mineral that can be found in various colors such as green, blue, yellow, brown, and red. Aventurine is usually identified by its sparkly appearance, which is caused by the presence of small reflective inclusions of mica or hematite.

Summary of Jade

Jade is a mineral that has been highly valued for thousands of years across many cultures. It is a compact, dense stone that is tough and durable, making it ideal for carving and jewelry making. Jade comes in a variety of colors, including green, white, brown, and black, and can be translucent or opaque.

Table Comparison of Aventurine vs Jade