gemstone

Goldstone (aventurine glass)

Synthetic copper-bearing soda-lime glass; commonly sold as red goldstone

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 5.5–6 Mohs; reddish-brown, opaque, vitreous and densely sparkly from reflective copper crystals. Amorphous glass rather than a natural crystal, with no cleavage; specific gravity about 2.4–2.6.

Identified August 7, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

A human-made glass developed in Venice, Italy, traditionally by accidentally incorporating copper particles into molten glass. It is not a natural rock or mineral and has no geological age.

Uses & applications

Used for beads, cabochons, carvings, ornaments, and decorative objects; the attractive aventurescent sparkle makes it popular in inexpensive jewelry.

Geological facts

Its glitter comes from metallic copper platelets, not gold. Blue and green varieties are also made by changing the glass chemistry and inclusions.

Field identification & locations

Identify by the uniform spherical beads, smooth glassy surfaces, reddish color, and evenly distributed glitter; natural aventurine quartz is usually less uniformly sparkly and shows quartz crystal properties. Commonly manufactured in China and elsewhere.