PERIDOT

Peridot is a stone whose popular olive green, pure and deep, is in high demand. The quality specimens, weighing more than a few carats are rare and expensive. It is easily confused with tourmaline, zircon and sometimes even with the emerald. The deposits of the oldest and most productive are located in the Red Sea on the island of Zebrine. Other sites in Myanmar (Burma), Brazil and the United States, also provide high quality specimens.

Characteristic

     Crystal system: Orthorhombic

  Chemical composition: (Mg, Fe) 2 SiO 4: ferrous magnesium silicate

     Color: yellow green, olive green.

     Hardness: 6.5 - 7.0

     Specific gravity: 3.32 - 3.35

     Refractive index: 1.65 - 1.69

     Dispersion: 0020

     Pleochroism: Colorless, yellow, green, green.

     Birthstone: August