History and origin of Peridot
Peridot is a magnesium iron silicate mineral and is high-grade Olivine. It is lime/yellow-green to olive green in color, the color resulting from the iron content. It can sometimes be found in combination with Idocrase.
Its name is French and is pronounced as Pear-ih-doe. While known for thousands of years, many times it was incorrectly called Chrysolite. Peridot is usually noted as a beautiful olive-green stone. While other colors such as brown, yellow, yellowish-brown, and brownish-green are available, by the far the most popular and attractive are the olive-green colored gemstones.
Peridot is sometimes called Olivine which is its Mineral name. However, when sold at commercial jewelry stores, it is almost always named Peridot. Peridot is made from magnesium and iron with silica and oxygen mixed in.
Peridot is not that common in many world regions and thus does not have an extensive history. However, it is still considered one of the birthstones available for the month of August.
While Peridot does have a decent hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, it is usually considered not the best stone for rings or certain types of ornamental jewelry. The reason being is that it is extremely susceptible to chemical weathering and can change colors or lose its color quite rapidly.
Peridot: Meanings, Benefits and Properties
The frequency of Peridot is connected to the solar plexus and heart chakras. It activates and integrates the energy of both these chakras allowing one to be confident in one’s actions and to fulfill that which one’s “heart desires” by aligning “love” and “will”.
This beautiful colored stone supports abundance on all levels so that one can manifest “health, wealth and happiness” and aids one to be open to receive the abundance and love of the Universe.
The energy of Peridot helps one to connect and communicate with “Nature’s Spirits” from the animal, plant, and Devic kingdoms.
This crystal aids with animal communication and healing.
Associated Chakras
- Solar Plexus
- Heart
Physical Ailment
- Anemia
- Heart – Imbalances
Emotional Issue
- Acceptance
Spiritual Connection
- Abundance
- Communicating with Animals
- Connection to Natures Spirits
What is Peridot used for?
While Peridot can make a wonderful mineral for ornamental jewelry, if you are planning on wearing a piece that includes Peridot for every day, you should reconsider. While high-quality Peridot will last for generations, everyday wear especially with items such as rings, might not be the best choice, due to the fact that Peridot weathers are extremely easy. You might want to consider a brooch, charm, earrings, or a bracelet.
It is important to note that Peridot does have its jewelry niches. For those looking for a wonderful green gemstone that is not as bright or deep green as the emerald, the Peridot is perfect. These gemstones are commonly called “Evening Emerald”.
Peridot is the commercial gemstone name for this magnesium iron mineral that sometimes is mixed with nickel and chromium. Chromium gives Peridot its beautiful green hue. In regular mineral form, Peridot is commonly called Olivine. Another mineral that is closely associated with Peridot in color and features is Chrysolite.
How and where is Peridot formed?
Usually, Peridot is found in rocks that are high in iron or magnesium. While Peridot is rare, it can be found in a select few places, primarily St. Johns Island in the Red Sea, Myanmar in Asia, and the state of Arizona in the United States.
