Aventurine is a variety of quartz that contains mica, fuchsite, or other minerals that create a distinctive sparkling or glimmering effect, known as aventurescence. It typically appears in green, though it can also be found in orange, brown, blue, and yellow varieties. Green aventurine, which is the most common, owes its color to the presence of fuchsite (a type of mica). Aventurine has a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7, making it durable enough for use in jewelry, beads, and carvings. Major sources of aventurine include India, Brazil, and Chile.