Peridot Gem Stone
Peridot is a beautiful gemstone in its own right and is widely popular. Peridot is perhaps derived from the French word peritot which means unclear, probably due to the inclusions and cloudy nature of large stones. It could also be named from the Arabic word faridat which means gem.The best colored peridot has an iron percentage of less than 15% and includes nickel and chromium as trace elements that may also contribute to the best peridot color. although peridot is distinctly a different shade of green, many jewelers refer to peridot as “evening emerald“.
Quality Peridot is found from the ancient source of Zagbargad (Zebirget) Island in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt; Mogok, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma); Kohistan, Pakistan; Minas Gerais, Brazil; Eifel, Germany; Chihuahua, Mexico; Ethiopia; Australia; Peridot Mesa, San Carlos Apache Reservation, Gila County, Arizona and Salt Lake Crater, Oahu, Hawaii, USA.
The best quality peridot has historically come either from Myanmar or Egypt, in which pakistan being a new source inperidot production. An estimated 80 - 95% of all world production of peridot comes from Arizona. The Myanmar, Pakistani and Egyptian gems are rarer and of better quality and thus quite valuable approaching the per carat values of top gemstones.
Peridot (pronounced pair-a-doe) is the gem variety of olivine. Olivine, which is actually not an official mineral, is composed of two minerals: fayalite and forsterite. Peridot is usually closer to forsterite than fayalite in composition although iron is the coloring agent for peridot. The best colored peridot has an iron percentage of less than 15% and includes nickel and chromium as trace elements that may also contribute to the best peridot color
Other green gemstones confused with peridot include apatite (which is much softer); green garnets (have no double refraction), green tourmaline and green sinhalite (both of which are strongly pleochroic), moldavites (no double refraction) and green zircon (significantly heavier).
Peridot as a legend was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra. Peridot can be fun to collect for years to come.
VARIETY INFORMATION:
- VARIETY OF: Olivine , (Mg, Fe)2SiO4.
- USES: gemstone.
- BIRTHSTONE FOR: August
- COLOR: shades of green usually from yellow-green to greenish yellow.
- INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.630 - 1.695
- BIREFRINGENCE: 0.037
- HARDNESS: 6.5 - 7
- CLEAVAGE: usually not discernible
- CRYSTAL SYSTEM: orthorhombic
- For natural peridot mineral specimens see our For Sale or Sold lists
