This month’s gemstone is the gorgeous Peridot. Peridot is the yellowish green to greenish yellow variety of the Olivine family. The word peridot is said to be from the Arabic faridat meaning gem.
Peridot is found in many locations such as China, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan and Tanzania. There is also a beach in Hawaii called Peridot Beach where the sands shimmer a luminous green, but the most amazing source must be found in meteorites that have journeyed to Earth from far in space.
And now for the technical stuff…… Peridot is an aluminium silicate with traces of magnesium and iron. The concentrations of either mineral produces the colour or lack of, in the stone. The more iron the darker concentration of green. It grows in the orthorhombic crystal system and is around 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
Peridot has an extremely high birefringence which produces an optical quality called double refraction. When you look closely you are able to see two images of the pavilion facets which produces an intense sparkle.
Peridot is usually eye clean in clarity, but it can have a unique inclusion called a “lily pad”. It appears as an opaque crystal surrounded by small stress cracks and is a distinguishing feature of this gemstone.
This gemstone is amazing and one of my favourites. It’s incredible green colour and brilliance produces a truly wonderful gemstone that could only come from the stars.