Peridot is the gem variety of the mineral olivine. Its chemical composition includes iron and magnesium, and iron is the cause of its attractive yellowish green colors. The gem often occurs in volcanic rocks called basalts, which are rich in these two elements.

Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color: an olive-green. The intensity and tint of the green, however, depends on the percentage of iron in the crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow, to olive, to brownish-green.

The origins of peridot are quite amazing. As a type of olivine, a mineral that nature provides in abundance, peridot has fiery origins because it comes from lavas. We know of only two gemstones that come from lava versus the earths crust — diamond and peridot. Some sources also affirm that specific types of peridot have extraterrestrial origins, coming from meteorites. Both origins — lava and meteorites — sound very powerful, so you can imagine the energy of this gemstone!

Peridot Characteristics

• Hardness: 6.5 – 7
• Color: Yellow, to yellow-green, olive-green, to brownish, sometimes a lime-green, to emerald-ish hue
• Transparency: Translucent to transparent
• Chemical composition: (MgFe)₂SiO₄
• Crystal system: Yellow, to yellow-green, olive-green, to brownish, sometimes a lime-green, to emerald-ish hue
• Refractive index: 1.65 to 1.69

History of peridot

Peridot jewelry dates back as far as the second millennium BC. These ancient Egyptian gemstones came from deposits on a small volcanic island in the Red Sea called Topazios, now known as St. John’s Island or Zabargad.

Ancient Egyptians called peridot the “gem of the sun,” believing it protected its wearer from terrors of the night. Some historians believe that Cleopatra’s famed emerald collection may have actually been peridot.

Through medieval times, people continued to confuse these two green gemstones. The 200-carat gemstones adorning one of the shrines in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral were long believed to be emeralds as well, yet they are also peridots.

This gemstone saw a revival in the 1990s, when new deposits were discovered in Pakistan. These deposits produced some of the finest peridots ever found. In fact, some of these “Kashmir peridots” measured more than 100 carats.

The most productive peridot deposit in the world is located on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. An estimated 80 to 95 percent of the world’s peridot supply is found here.

Thanks to these rich gemstone deposits, the modern demand for peridots can now be easily met, giving people born in August affordable options for wearing this beautiful green birthstone.

Sources of Peridot

The fabled origin of Peridot stretches back to Ancient Egypt, on the volcanic island of Zebargad in the Red Sea. Peridot was so treasured by the Ancient Egyptians that they kept the island’s location a secret. With the fall of the Egyptian empire, the island became lost to antiquity, and was only rediscovered in 1906. Since that time, Zebargad’s Peridot deposits have been exhausted.

Trace amounts of Peridot have also been found in Hawaii. Tiny grains of Peridot line the beaches, mixed with sand, and are too small to cut. To Hawaiians, they symbolize the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire.

Today, the largest sources of Peridot are the United States, Myanmar, Pakistan, and the Himalayas.

Peridot Enhancement

Even in its natural form, Peridot’s distinct green hue is remarkably consistent —a feature seen rarely in gemstones. Peridot is not enhanced or heat-treated to improve its color. Occasionally, Peridot is treated with colorless oils, waxes, or resins to fill voids or surface fractures and to improve the gem’s appearance or surface luster. Any enhancements to Peridot should be disclosed on the gemstone’s bill of sale.

Benefits of Peridot

It is interesting to note that with all this intensity, peridot first and foremost emits the energy of gentle and joyful healing. It knows how to handle intensity because it is born out of it; and it also knows that the only way to handle intensity is with coolness, compassion and harmony. Color green has always been associated with the energy of the heart, and an open heart responds only with kindness and a joyful, wise acceptance. This is the energy peridot promotes in anyone who is interested in its energies.

The most prominent property of peridot is its joyful and gentle heart-opening ability, along with the wisdom to deal with the energy of conflicts and relationship difficulties. Peridot helps clear blockages accumulated in one’s heart and opens the way for more grace, beauty, and happiness to come into one’s life.

When it comes in a more yellow color tone, peridot is excellent for working with self-esteem issues. In this case, a long necklace or pendant that reaches the solar plexus area and is worn often can create strong shifts in one’s energy body. The yellow color in peridot will also promote a more cheerful disposition for the wearer and inspire more optimism and belief in a brighter future.

Peridot with brown color mixed in its green will help with the energy of grounding. As such, it is good for those who may encounter difficulties in being emotionally present in various experiences, as well as with many people in their lives.

The abundant energy of the green color peridot is excellent for the purpose of attracting more abundance into one’s life. Green is the color associated with abundance, so peridot helps attract abundance while keeping one’s heart open and joyful. The wisdom of peridot is about attracting wealth with joy and by following one’s true calling, rather than with hard work and persistence.

Peridot can also:

• Promote the energy of protection
• Ease stress
• Attract harmony and joyful peace
• Help with digestive disorders
• Strengthen the immune system
• Bring harmony to relationships
• Inspire happiness
• Balance one’s emotions
• Teach how to succeed without aggression

Care Instruction

While Peridot possesses a strong and stately appearance, its hardness and susceptibility to temperature mean that it requires special care.

Peridot rings last longer if worn as a fashion wardrobe accessory rather than as a piece of everyday wear. Additionally, rapid and dramatic changes in temperature can damage Peridot.

To clean Peridot jewelry at home, soak pieces briefly in a solution of warm water and gentle dish detergent. Use a soft brush to clean around the setting and restore the gem’s luster. Be sure that Peridot is never subjected to ultrasonic or steam cleaning, as these methods can easily damage the gemstone.

Peridot