Everything You Need to Know About Peridot

| 3 min read

Peridot is one of the most striking gemstones in the world. Although often overlooked, it radiates strong verdant colours ranging from a rich green to a yellowish olive. With a history stretching back 4,000 years, it is one of the oldest known gemstones on the planet.  

Here, we delve deeper into one of Earth's most remarkable stones. 

PERIDOT: GENERAL INFORMATION

Peridot is August's birthstone and the gem that represents the 16th wedding anniversary. It is the only famous member of the Olivine mineral family. Peridot and Olivine are the same mineral; however, the name Peridot is applied to gem-quality Olivine specimens.

In the past, Peridot has been mistaken for other green gemstones such as Emerald. But, unlike other gems that are allochromatic (coloured by their impurities), Peridot is idiochromatic, meaning its colour comes from its chemical composition. It's also mildly pleochroic, meaning you can see different shades of colour from different angles. 

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF PERIDOT

Peridot 

Crystal System Orthorhombic

Specific Gravity 3.27 - 3.48

Refractive Index 1.63 - 1.69

Chemical Formula (MgFe)2SiO4

Composition Magnesium Iron Silicate 

WHERE DOES THE NAME 'PERIDOT' COME FROM?

Peridot is one of the oldest known gemstones and has been mined for around 4,000 years – however, it wasn't always referred to by this name. 

The gem is frequently mentioned in the Bible, but not as Peridot – rather, as its original title, Chrysolite. This term is taken from 'chrysolithos', the Ancient Greek term for 'golden stone'.

Peridot 

Since its discovery, it has been debated where the name 'Peridot' originated, and there are a few possibilities which could have led to its modern name, which we refer to below: 

  • The Latin word 'paederot', which refers to a variety of Opal 

  • The Arabic word 'faridat', meaning 'gemstone' 

  • The old French word 'peritot', meaning 'unclear', as the gem earned a reputation for having an oily appearance 

WHERE IS PERIDOT SOURCED?

Changbai Mountains

Peridot is the only stone other than Diamond to form in the Earth's mantle (around 20 miles below the crust, where other gemstones form). It forms in magma and is brought to the surface by volcanic activity. It's also been found in meteorites, on Mars, and even on the Moon! 

Early Peridot sources were found on an island in the Red Sea, known today as St John's Island but previously known as Topazios. Substantial deposits have since been found in multiple areas around the world, including China in the late 1970s and Pakistan in 1994. The USA's San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona also has a healthy Peridot supply. However, the residents were given sole rights to all mineral deposits a long time ago. 

Other Peridot sources include Australia, Myanmar, Norway and Brazil. 

LEGEND & FOLKLORE

Peridot Stones

We must point out that there is no scientific evidence to authenticate the metaphysical properties of gemstones. However, we believe this topic deserves further research. 

Some of the first Peridots mined by the Ancient Egyptians were carved into talismans around 3,500 years ago; however, these miners never worked in the daytime as they believed Peridot was invisible in sunlight as it absorbed the sun's rays and released them at night. In short, they thought the gem could glow in the dark and mined them at night.  

Additionally, Peridot has long been associated with luck and being able to ward off evil spirits, increase focus, and bring good fortune. 

CLEANING & CARING FOR YOUR PERIDOT

Peridot Gem

To clean your Peridot, you only need warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. The stone doesn't like extreme temperatures, so always keep the water at room temperature or lukewarm and never leave it in direct sunlight. For storage, always keep your Peridot separate from other gems to avoid scratching. 

If you're looking to add Peridot to your gemstone collection, shop it here on GemCollector.

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