On a recent cruise a friend of mine bought a BEAUTIFUL, black gem stone pendant with brilliant sparkles. The shop she got it in, told her it was "venturite" or something like that. But we cannot find it under that name, on the internet. The sparkles are very small specks. It almost appears solid black until light reflects. They are not gold flakes. It makes me think of what it might look like to fly through the stars at night. Anyway, if you have any idea what this stone might be, please let me know. THANKS!
2007-01-31 01:19:24 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Does it look like this?
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/images/bltourmaline.htm
The mineral Tourmaline is sometimes cut into the gemstone Verdalite, which is a similar word to that which you mentioned.
I also found this:
http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/gb4.htm
Staurolite - The transparent to opaque staurolite has a vitreous luster and comes in colors from reddish brown to black. One major interesting feature of staurolite is the interpenetration twinning, which can be seen in about 35 percent of the specimens. The crystals form in two twin types, x-shaped and +-shaped. Staurolite exhibits a hardness of 7-7.5 and a density of 3.7 to 3.8. Staurolite is in the monoclinic crystal system. Pleochroism can be seen, although colors and depth vary at different angles, from a strong yellow to yellow-red to red. Specimens are found associated with other metamorphic minerals such as almandine garnet, kyanite, and mica minerals. This cross form of this silicate mineral is associated with Christianity and considered by some to be good luck. Other names have been attributed to staurolite such as "Fairy Stone" or "Fairy Cross".
2007-01-31 02:42:05 · answer #1 · answered by Karma 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From your description and without seeing it the most likely candidate is "Goldstone". This is not a stone at all but glass. It is produced in a range of colours, brown being the most common but black is also common. During the manufacture of the glass powdered copper is added to the mixture which melts and as the glass cools down it forms small, glistening crystals which reflect light and make the "stone" sparkle. It is very pretty but of almost no value. The name "Venturite" has no meaning and is probably something invented to help sell this and similar items.
2007-01-31 11:32:13 · answer #2 · answered by U.K.Export 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depending on where the stone was purchased, it may be a synthetic stone or possibly obsidian, with inclusions (flaws) which could produce the sparkle. I believe there is a mineral sometimes referred to as sandstone or gold stone which has the brilliant sparkles referred to. Ususally these are gold, golden brown, light brown in color, and may also occur in black. I have such a stone in a ring purchased many years ago in Thailand. They called it a sandstone.
2007-01-31 02:48:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's probably and artificial gem and that's the name they decided to call it. There doesn't seem to be a mineral with that name. You'll notice that the shopping channels will take cubic zirconium and give it their own brand name.
2007-01-31 02:38:10 · answer #4 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hitler didn't hate Albanians he called them the Aryan of the illyrians. The only reason Neo- Nazi's are p***** is because Albanians helped Jewish people hide during the war. Albania is the only European country that had more Jewish people after WW2 then before.
2016-05-23 22:35:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My birthstone is opal, and I have a black opal from Australia, also known as a boulder opal, but the flecks are pink, green and gold. Maybe?
2007-01-31 01:49:00 · answer #6 · answered by barbara b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋