About Peridot
Peridot ranges in color from yellow green to olive green. This gem has been known for many years even dating back to the Egyptians where it was called "the gem of the sun." One of the major sources for this material is the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona. Peridot has also been found in meteorites which have landed on the earth. These items are usually kept by collectors and are rarely made into jewelry.
Physical Properties of Peridot: |
| Color |
Yellow Green to Green |
Refractive Index |
1.654 - 1.690 (+/- 0.020) |
Pleochroism |
Weak Yellow Green and Green |
Chemistry |
Magnesium Iron Silicate |
Hardness |
3.34 (+0.14, -0.07) |
Specific gravity |
2.66 (+0.03, -0.02) |
Crystal Group |
Orthorhombic |
| Primary sources |
Africa, Asia, Europe, Pakistan, United States |
Typical peridot mine on the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona. They are open pit mines in which veins of basalt rock contain pockets of peridot.
Peridot crystals in basalt rock.
