Peridot - August

Peridot is the gemstone recognized for its “lime-green” color. It can be found in volcanoes, even meteors that fall to the earth.

Peridot was mined in ancient Egypt on an island said to be infested with serpents called Zeberget.

Today Native Americans on the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona mine it, and it is said to strengthen the power of any medicine.

Peridot is a form of the mineral olivine. Because the iron that creates the color is an integral part of its structure, it can only be found in green. Generally the market prefers a clear vivid “spring” green, with less yellow and no brown overtones.

Small sizes of peridot are readily available, but large sizes in fine quality are rare.

Peridot has a hardness of 6.5 on the Mohs scale, which is harder than metal but softer than many gems. Store peridot with care to avoid scratches.

Clean with mild dish soap in warm water. Peridot should not be cleaned with ultrasonic cleaners.