Discovering Gemstones – August Edition

August’s birthstone, peridot, comes from the mineral olivine, which is found in meteorites!

The peridot colouring ranges depending on the proportions of iron and magnesium in its mineral structure. Iron-rich peridot appears more brown, while magnesium turns it a desirable green. This differs from other gems that owe their varying colours to trace metals captured in the mineral structure.

In its gem quality, Peridot is rich green with a hint of gold. Despite its abundance in dark-coloured igneous rocks like basalt and gabbro, gem-quality peridot is actually quite rare.

Peridot’s long history includes use by ancient Egyptians, ancient Romans and Native Americans. Today, people use Peridot in jewellery. The largest and highest quality gems are currently found in the rich deposits of Pakistan and Myanmar.

If you’re not picky about your olivine, head to Papakolea Beach in Hawaii where olivine-rich lava erupted from a volcano, making the sand a beautiful green colour.