Peridot

Peridot is an attractive green gemstone belonging to the mineral group olivine, and is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one colour. However, the intensity and tint of the green depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so therefore the colour of individual Peridot can vary from yellow-green through olive green and occasionally a brown hue which is caused by mica flakes.  Peridot gemstones can also contain chromite crystals, which induce flat stress cracks resembling water lily leaves.

Peridot can be found in Zabargad (St John’s Island) in the Red Sea. It is said that its discovery here was made by pirates, but that the location was lost for centuries, not being obtained again until the rediscovery of the mines in the 1900s. It can also be found in Myanmar, Pakistan, China and Arizona, USA, Australia, Brazil and Norway.

Peridot can attain quite large sizes - there is a cut Peridot of 319 carats in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, USA; one of 192 carats in the Diamond Treasury in Moscow; and another of 136 carats in the Natural History Museum in London.
 

• Peridot is the birthstone for August
• Peridot is the Zodiac stone for Libra
• Peridot jewellery is often given to celebrate a 16th Wedding Anniversary

View Peridot Jewellery at Astley Clarke