Aventurine: A translucent quartz with a sparkle of mica
The pink color and aventurescence is produced by tiny flakes of lepidolite mica within the quartz. Click here for a closeup view that shows how few flakes of lepidolite are needed to impart color in aventurine. Using a gemological microscope and focusing on individual flakes below the surface of the stone often reveals their pseudohexagonal habit.