Mineral: Olivine
Colour: Yellowish green
Moh's Hardness: 6.5 - 7
Birthstone: August
Anniversary: 15th
Peridot is a yellowish green gem found in peridotite rock in the earth’s upper mantle. Interestingly, peridot is incredibly ancient and found in pallasite meteorites which are remnants from the birth of our solar system. In 2005 peridot was found in the comet dust retrieved from the NASA robotic space probe Stardust, something which makes me love this intergalactic gem even more! Today it is estimated that about 80-90% of the world's supply comes from San Carlos in the Apache Reservation, USA.
History
Peridot is an ancient gemstone once called the 'gem of the sun' by the Egyptians, who exclusively mined this gem for 3500 years on the volcanic island of Zabargad (also known as Snake Island) in the Red Sea. Peridot was sometimes misidentified as emerald in the ancient world, as is thought to be the case with Cleopatra's famed emerald jewellery collection; now considered to have more likely been peridot.
Care
Being 6.5-7 on the Moh’s scale of hardness, peridot is considered a good gemstone for jewellery but must be worn with care. It can be scratched and chipped if handled roughly, so be careful to avoid any hard impacts or knocks. Peridot is stable to light exposure but avoid acids and abrasive materials, extreme heat changes and ultrasonic cleaners. It is best to soak your peridot jewellery in warm soapy water, rinse and dry with a soft cloth.
