The Happy Peridot |
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When choosing a ring, bracelet, or necklace, no gemstone is a happier choice than a peridot. Its variety of yellowish -green olivine has been a favorite for thousands of years. It is the birthstone for August, and the gift to give on one's 16th wedding anniversary. It is also the stone for the astrological sign of Libra.
Peridot, known as the "volcanic gem" is one of few gemstones who only has one color, though that one color can range from bright yellow to an olive green. to a green with a hint of brown. It has a vitreous luster, and is sometimes called the "poor man's emerald," It was thought that Cleopatra's emeralds might have actually been peridot. It was prized by Egyptian kings. Its name comes from the French word "peritot" which means "unclear". It was called the "evening emerald. It is also called "precious olivine.and ranges between 6.5 and 7.0 on the Mohl's scale for hardness. It is mentioned in the Bible with the name of chrysolite, which is a golden yellow color. People in the middle Ages wore it to get divine inspiration. Pirates preferred wearing it to protect themselves against evil.
The United States was formerly the world's greatest producer of the gem, but now rivaled by Pakistan and China. The Pakistan peridot is called Kashmir. In America it is found in Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, North Carolina, and New Mexico. The countries producing peridot are China, Egypt, Brazil, Pakistan, Kenya, Mexico, Tanzania, Norway and Myanmar (formerly Burma). According to records, its first production was off the coast of Egypt in 70 AD. In Egypt it was mined on an island called Zeberget at night because it was believed it could not be seen very easily in the daytime.The eastern lava fields of Saudi Arabia produce high quality gems.
Peridot has been mined from St. John's Island in the Red Sea for over3500 years according to Pliny in his Natural History. Very large crystals are found in Myanmar and Brazil, weighing from 20 to 40 carats Its crystal shape is the form of a cube. As a talisman it is believed to bring peace, success, and luck to the wearer, to calm nerves, and to induce slee The Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C houses a 310 carat specimen.
Peridot of the quality to make gems is rather rare. It is found in lava and magic and ultramafic rocks. The best quality is found in Aruzoin, Norway, Red Sea Islands and Myanmar. The gem should be protected from sharp blows, scratches, and extreme temperature changes. If you are looking for jewelry, it should be priced about the same as garnet or tourmaline, and beware of synthetics.