man-made glass mineral simulant
Blue Goldstone
Aventurine Glass (Silicon Dioxide with metal inclusions)
Hardness: 5.5-6 (Mohs scale); Color: Deep midnight blue with sparking metallic flecks; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline glass); Specific Gravity: ~2.5
- Hardness
- 5
- Color
- Deep midnight blue with sparking metallic flecks
- Luster
- Vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5.5-6 (Mohs scale); Color: Deep midnight blue with sparking metallic flecks; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline glass); Specific Gravity: ~2.5
Formation & geological history
Created in a low-oxygen reducing atmosphere by melting silica, borax, and copper oxides. Blue goldstone specifically uses cobalt or manganese to achieve the blue hue and metallic sparkle.
Uses & applications
Primarily used for jewelry such as beads, cabochons, and tumbled stones. Also popular in metaphysical circles and for ornamental carvings.
Geological facts
Legend says it was discovered by Italian monks via accidental alchemy, but the process likely dates back to 12th-century Persia or 17th-century Venetian glassmaking (the Miotti family).
Field identification & locations
Identify by its uniform 'galaxy' sparkle (aventurescence) and smooth, glass-like surface. Unlike natural minerals, the sparkles are perfectly distributed and the base is opaque glass. It is not found in nature.
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Other man-made glass mineral simulant specimens
Silicon Carbide (Carborundum)
Silicon Carbide (SiC) / Moissanite (natural)
mineral
Opalite (a synthetic glass)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with various additives; not a true mineral but a man-made gem simulant
Mineral Simulant (Synthetic Glass)
Pink Cubic Zirconia (CZ)
Zirconium Dioxide (ZrO2)
mineral (synthetic)
Carborundum (Silicon Carbide)
Silicon Carbide (SiC) / Moissanite (natural form)
mineral
Diamond (or Cubic Zirconia)
Carbon (C) or Zirconium Dioxide (ZrO2)
mineral
N/A - Non-Geological Item
not a rock/mineral