Peridot
Peridot is the gemstone born in
fire, the volcanic gem.
Gem-quality specimens of the
mineral olivine are called peridot by gemologists.
Peridot has an olive or bottle-green color due to the
presence of iron, and distinctive oily or greasy lustre.
Peridot is the birthstone for
August.
Peridot was mined in ancient Egypt
on an island called Zeberget. Mining was done at night
because legend said that peridot could not be easily
seen during the day. The island was infested with
serpents who made peridot mining a very dangerous
occupation until one Pharoh finally had them all driven
into the sea.
The Romans called peridot
"evening emerald," since its green color did
not darken at night but was still visible by lamplight.
Peridot later was also often used to decorate medieval
churches, probably carried back to Europe by the
Crusaders. Large peridots, more than 200 carats in size,
adorn the shrine of the three magi at the Cologne
Cathedral.
Peridot had the power to drive away
evil spirits and the power was considered to be even
more intense when the stone was set in gold. Peridot was
also said to strengthen the power of any medicine drunk
from goblets carved from the gemstone
Today most peridot is mined by
Native Americans in Arizona on the San Carlos
Reservation. Fine large peridot are found in Myanmar
(formerly Burma) and peridot is also mined in China and
Sri Lanka.
In 1994, an exciting new deposit of
peridot was discovered in Pakistan that is among the
finest ever seen. The new mine is located 15,000 feet
above sea level in the Nanga Parbat region in the far
west of the Himalaya Mountains in the Pakistanian part
of Kashmir. Beautiful large crystals of peridot were
found, some that cut magnificent large gemstones. One
stone was more than 300 carats! This new discovery,
combined with fashion's passion for lime green, has
revived interest in peridot and increased the popularity
of this gemstone.
Although peridot is treasured in
Hawaii as the goddess Pele's tears, almost all of the
peridot sold in Hawaii today is from Arizona, although
peridot is produced by Hawaii's volcanoes. The island of
Oahu even has beaches made out of olivine grains but
unfortunately they are much too small to cut into
peridot!
A large chunk of the peridot produced in Arizona is sold in
Hawaii, where it is treasured as the goddess Pele’s
tears. Hawaiian volcanoes are said to be the origin of
olivine grains, which make the beaches of the island of
Oahu.
Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, its verdant hues rival
the green of a new spring day. Peridot has been credited
with a host of magical powers and healing properties,
such as protection against nightmares and possessing the
power to ward off evil.
It is the birthstone for August and a recommended gift
for the sixteenth wedding anniversary.
Ghirt
Mani, Zeberged, Olivine, Chrysolite are the alternative
names of Peridot.
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