Peridot

Peridot, or evening emerald as it often called due to the beauty of its yellowy green colour, is seen at its best at dusk. It is a beautiful gemstone that at this time has lost some of its past popularity.

For centuries it was only found on a island called Zabargad in the sea of Egypt. Now approximately 10% of it can be found in Burma, China, Zambia and Pakistan but the rest is found on a native American reserve. It is also the first gemstone to be found on another planet - NASA has recorded it on Mars. It is, along with diamond, formed in the magma at the earth's mantle and, like diamonds, it is ejected to the earth's surface in an explosion of the magma. There the similarity ends.

Peridot is the softest translucent gemstone ranking only 6.5 on Moth's scale of relative hardness, making it softer than emerald, garnet and quartz. This could be why it is less popular than many of its counterparts. Also, unlike other gemstones, its vibrant green colour is dependent on iron which is an integral part of its chemical formula. Other gems simply pick up traces of incidental chemicals that affect their colour. Peridot is only ever green, some other gems have more than one colour such as garnet or Beryl.

It is the birth stone for August but is not found among the gemstones treasured as anniversary stones. In the past it was held in high esteem finding itself mentioned in the Bible and worn in a pendant belonging to the young Pharaoh Tutankhamen.

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