Ten Peridot Gemstone Facts (August Stones)
Ten Peridot Gemstone Facts
1. Gem Variety of Olivine
Peridot is a gem variety of the mineral olivine.
It is composed of magnesium and iron silicate, and what makes its color distinctive is the iron content in its crystal structure.
2. Only Occurs in Green
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occurs in only one basic color.
The hue ranges from yellowish-green to olive-green depending on iron content, but it is always some shade of green.
3. Forms Deep Inside Earth
Peridot forms deep inside the Earth’s mantle.
Like diamonds, peridot crystals originate far below the crust and are brought to the surface by volcanic activity.
4. Occurs in Meteorites
Peridot is one of only two gemstones known to occur naturally in meteorites.
Rare peridot crystals have been found in pallasite meteorites, meaning some peridots literally come from space.
5. Strong Double Refraction
Peridot exhibits strong double refraction.
Light entering the gem can split into two rays, sometimes making facet edges appear doubled when viewed through the stone.
6. Large Crystals Rare
Large and high-quality peridot crystals are relatively rare.
While small stones are common and affordable, intensely colored, large stones (10+ carats) are unusual and prized.
7. Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.
Peridot has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.
This makes peridot durable enough for many types of jewelry, though it’s softer than gems like sapphire or diamond.
8. Mined over 3,500 Years Ago
Some of the earliest peridot gemstones were mined over 3,500 years ago.
The ancient Egyptians mined it on an island in the Red Sea (Zabargad or St. John’s Island), one of the oldest known sources.
9. Name Derives from “Gem"
Peridot’s name has uncertain origins but may derive from words meaning “gem.”
Linguists suggest links to Arabic and French terms relating to gemstones.
10. Quality Ranked by Color and Clarity
Peridot quality is judged by color intensity and clarity.
The finest stones show rich, pure green without brown or yellow tones and are typically eye-clean (free of visible inclusions).
August Gemstones ~ Peridot Quiz
As you may know Peridot is one of the gemstones of August together with Spinel which also comes in green. Here is a fun trivia quiz about this interesting gemstone.
No email is required - your score and the answers will come up here after you hit the Submit button :).
