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Where Does The Peridot Get Its Color?

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The Peridot is actually known under three names: Peridot, Chrysolith and Olivin, because Peridot is the gemstone variety of the Olivin mineral. In the gemstone trade it is generally called Peridot, which is derived from the Greek word peridona, meaning giving a plenty.

Peridot is one of the few gemstones that exist only in one color. Finest traces of iron account for the deep green color with a slight golden hue. Chemically Peridot is just an iron-magnesium-silicate and the intensity of color depends on the amount of iron contained. The color can come in any variation from yellow-green and olive to brownish green. Peridot is not particularly hard, it only achieves about 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs’ scale, but it is easy to care for and quite strong. The Peridot-Cat’s Eye and the Star-Peridot are both very rare possessions.

The most beautiful stones come from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. Peridot also comes from Myanmar, China, the United States, Africa and Australia. Stones from Myanmar show a vivid green with fine silky inclusions. Peridot from Arizona is popular in Native Indian jewelry and often shows a yellowish to golden brown shade.

The most unusual olive green gem is from meteorites and is called pallasites. Moldavite is found in the Czech Republic and is believed to have come from a meteor about 14.8 million years ago. Because this stone contains crystals of olivine and has a similar color it is often confused with Peridot.

Next Page: How Are Peridots Cut?

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