August’s peridot has controversial history
 

by Bethany Waldrop Keiper

"Green as cats' eyes, green as grass, by streams of water, green as glass." -- Margaret Wise Brown

August's birthstone, peridot, may seem to be an uncomplicated stone, in all of its apple-green simplicity. But a closer look inside this yellow-green gem reveals surprises, contrasts, and confusion.

Surprises and contrasts start with the gemstone's name, with the supposed French origin of the word peridot, "peritot," meaning unclear, but even this is not confirmed, for the stone's name may have come from the Arabic word for gem, "faridat." Before the 18th century, peridot was known as topaz -- even though topaz is golden and peridot is green.

A study of peridot's history reveals that it has been mined as a gemstone for close to four thousand years. In the Bible, the stone is mentioned with the Hebrew name pitdah, and it was supposedly one of the stones adorning the breastplates of the Jewish high priests. The ancient Romans called peridot by still another name -- the Evening Emerald -- because its color did not darken at night. At least it has one, settled-on name now.

Emeralds and peridots have been confused with each other throughout history. The sparkling emeralds of many royal treasures have been
discovered to actually be peridots. There are many other green gems that have been mistaken for peridot, including green garnets, green tourmaline, apatite, green sinhalite, moldavites, and green zircon. None of these stones have peridot's usual signature yellow touch to their coloring.

Feeling confused? Get ready for more. Peridot is actually the gem variety of olivine. Olivine is not considered an official mineral -- but it is composed of two minerals -- fayalite and forsterite. How many more names can be affiliated with this stone? One more – iron -- which fayalite is rich in, gives peridot its color.

Peridot can be found in a wide range of locations. The most ancient source of peridot, producing stones worthy to be called gems, is the Zagbargad (Zebirget) Island in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. Throughout the centuries, Myanmar and Egypt have been the places to find the best quality peridot.

A challenger to that claim comes from new gem sources in Pakistan. These valuable stones rank alongside the Myanmar and Egyptian stones in
quality, but they comprise only 10 to 20 percent of the world's supply. Arizona, U.S., provides most of the world's supply of the gem, which is of a lower quality but of a higher quantity and a more affordable price. 

The most surprising place to find peridots is from space. Iron-nickel meteorites, called pallasites, are sources of the gem.  Another odd place to find peridot might be right under your feet. Olivine is one of the most common minerals found in the Earth's mantle, and some volcanoes, including those in  Hawaii, will sometimes produce sands made of transparent green peridot grains. Since Hawaii is often known for its striking black sand beaches, the thought of a green sand beach is somewhat surprising.

In ancient times, the Hawaiian people believed peridot to be the solidified tears of the goddess Pele. It was used by the Egyptians as early as 1500 B.C. and was considered the gem of the sun, despite its green color. The Egyptians also used it to make beads as early as 1580 B.C. It was believed that peridot was hard to see in daylight, so early miners searched for the stones at night, believing that moonlight made the crystals easier to find. Perhaps they thought the sun was protecting the stones during the day.

In a similar mystical sense, peridot is believed to protect those who wear it. It is thought to bring good luck, peace, and success; and attract love and calm anger while soothing tension and healing wounds to the ego. Peridot is often used to cleanse and stimulate the heart Chakra and the solar plexus Chakra.

Considering all of the contrast and confusion surrounding the stone itself, no wonder it soothes and calms -- it seems like it should understand.


Resources:
August Birthstone - Peridot
http://www.galleries.com/minerals/gemstone
/peridot/birthaug.htm

Beyond the Rainbow
http://www.rainbowcrystal.com

Peridot Facts, Information and Description
http://www.bernardine.com/birthstone/peridot.htm

Gemstone Mineralogy - Birthstone and Gemstone Images, Myths and Lore
http://www.rubybluejewelry.com/main_links/
gemstone_mineralogy_lore_july_aug_sept.htm#august

Peridot gemstone jewelry photos courtesy of the Bead Peddler.
http://www.beadpeddler.com

 

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