Find out the gestome of the week: Peridot

gemstones zircon
Gemstone of the Week: Zircon
10th November 2017
Citrine
Gemstone of the Week – Citrine
23rd November 2017
Peridot gemstones

A variety of the mineral Olivine, Peridot is renowned for its beautiful green colouring. As it belongs to the forsterite-fayalite mineral series, some people refer to Peridot and Olivine itself, but when the mineral is used as a gemstone it is almost always known as Peridot. The gem is famous for being idiochromatic; this means that its colouring comes from its own chemical make up, rather than from traces of impurities within the stone. Because of this, the precious stone only occurs in green. While the shade of green may vary slightly, Peridot is one of the only gemstones that can only occur in a single colour. In this article, we explore Peridot in more detail, discussing a variety of topics from identification to healing properties.

How to Identify Peridot

Peridot is an iron magnesium silicate. The exact shade of green the specimen holds is dependent on the amount of iron it contains. The more iron present in the chemical composition, the more intense the colour. While the stone can appear similar to other green gems, it is easy to identify Peridot through its strong double refraction. Additionally, the stone is fairly soft with little resistance to acid. Sometimes, specimens of Peridot can display the famous cat’s eye effect, formally referred to as asterism. In stones with this unique effect, the appearance of four ray starts will be present.

Different Colours and Types of Peridot

Although today most specimens of the stone are simply referred to as Peridot, the gemstone used to be referred to most of the time as Olivine and Chrysolite. The name the stone was given was dependent on its colouring. Typically, Olivine specimens were an intense green and Chrysolite had a yellow tint. Although the general public rarely uses these terms today, professionals still refer to them by these trade names. Below, we describe the differences between the varieties.

Peridot:

Top grades of the gemstone are simply referred to as Peridot. To classify as a top grade stone, the specimen must hold a medium to dark, yellowish green. The hue will give the impression of an intense, velvety colour. While the colour of the stone is not as intense as top grade piece of emerald, it’s beautiful colouring will be appreciated by lovers of Peridot.

Chrysolite:

Stones that hold a light yellow-green colour are categorised as Chrysolite.

Olivine:

Specimens that appear brownish-green in colour are referred to as Olivine. Often, these stones seem almost completely brown to the untrained eye.

Generally, the only variety of the stone used as a gemstone is Peridot. This is thought to be down to the lack of demand for Chrysolite and Olivine. Although the exact hue of gemstones on the market may vary, they are still referred to as Peridot as opposed to the other trade names.

Where is Peridot Found?

While most precious gemstones are formed in the earth’s crust, Peridot is formed deep within the mantle, instead. After forming in magma from the upper mantle, the crystals rise to the surface through tectonic or volcanic activity. From this point, the stones can be found in igneous rocks. Throughout history, most Peridot deposits have been found on a volcanic island in the Red Sea named Zabargad. While deposits are still found on Zabargad, large amounts of the stone are now sourced from Pakistan. Peridot is also found in Burma and Vietnam, as well as beautiful specimens being deposited in Queensland in Australia, Minas Gerais in Brazil, China, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and even Arizona and Hawaii in the United States. Today, certain areas of China are believed to house top-grade forms of Peridot.

Healing Properties of Peridot

Peridot has many benefits when used within crystal healing. The precious stone is thought to bless one’s life with healing, growth, renewal, purification, and rebirth. Useful for healing and rebalancing the glandular system, the stone assists with tissue regeneration as well cleansing the blood. It is also believed to aid digestion, relax the nervous system, relieve discomfort caused by bites and stings, and reduce fever. Those who own a piece of Peridot are thought to benefit from great eye health, too, in addition to a strong and healthy liver.

As the stone aids digestion, it is also said to cleanse and strengthen the digestive system. With this in mind, Peridot is ideal for those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s, and other digestive disorders. In addition to helping food move through the system at a healthy rate, the stone can aid stomach discomfort and reduce bloating. It is also thought to improve the metabolism, encouraging slow or fast metabolisms to process at a healthy rate. For women, Peridot is beneficial in childbirth. When in labour, place a small specimen on the abdomen to strengthen the muscle contractions and relieve pain.

Emotionally, Peridot can be used to relieve stress and reduce anxiety. For those that suffer from the aforementioned issues, try adding a piece of Peridot gemstone jewellery to your jewellery collection. Wear a small gemstone around the neck to experience relief from the associated symptoms. Additionally, the stone can be used to manage strong emotions such as anger, irritation, and jealousy. If managing these emotions is something you find tricky, purchase a good quality piece of Peridot to reap the benefits.

In Summary

Peridot is a powerful gemstone, most commonly found in Zabargad and Pakistan. Renowned for its gorgeous green hue, top grade specimens of the stone are often used in high-end designer jewellery. Additionally, the stone provides great benefits when used in crystal healing. Whether you’re looking to relieve stress and anxiety or ease Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a good-quality piece of Peridot could provide the relief you are searching for.

Comments are closed.