Aventurine Vs. Peridot


Aventurine is a popular gemstone composed of silicon dioxide.[1] Peridot is a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is magnesium iron silicate.[2]

Images of aventurine

Images of peridot


Quick Facts on Differences of Aventurine and Peridot

For a quick recap of the differences aventurine and peridot:
  • Aventurine can be opaque or translucent while peridot is transparent.
  • In terms of crystallography, aventurine is hexagonal while peridot is orthorhombic.
  • For chemical formulas, aventurine is SiO2 while peridot can be (Mg or Fe)2SiO4.
  • While both aventurine and peridot can be vitreous, in terms of luster, aventurine can be waxy.
  • While both aventurine and peridot can be commonly brown, green or yellow, aventurine can be commonly blue, gray or orange.

Quick Facts on Similarities of Aventurine and Peridot

The similarities of aventurine and peridot include:
  • Aventurine and peridot both streak colorless.
  • Aventurine's rarity is similar to peridot.

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 Peridot

Peridot is a beautiful green mineral that has been used for centuries in jewelry making. It is a type of olivine mineral and is found in volcanic rocks and meteorites. Peridot is known for its vibrant green color, which is caused by the presence of iron. The mineral can range in color from yellow-green to olive green, and can be transparent or translucent.

Table Comparison of Aventurine vs Peridot

Aventurine (src) Peridot (src)
Transparency translucent, opaque transparent
Chemical Formula SiO2 (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
Chemical Composition silicon dioxide magnesium iron silicate
Streak colorless colorless
Crystallography hexagonal orthorhombic
Hydrous No No
Colors common: blue, gray, brown, green, orange, yellow
common: green, yellow, brown
sometimes: olive
less common: pale, amber, lemon


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