Peridot
Pronounced Pair-uh-doh (/ˈpɛrᵻdɒt/), and known for its unique yellow-green hue, Peridot is a gem variety of the mineral Olivine. Peridot has classically been confused with other gems, particularly emerald and topaz. Peridot is also interestingly a stone that has been found in meteorites that have fallen to earth.
History and Etymology-
Peridot’s name is French but likely comes from the word for gem in Arabic- “faridat”
A stone that has been mined for 3500, Peridot was called the “gem of the sun” by the Egyptians who mined them from an island in the Red Sea. The Roman Empire named the island Topazios and thus they named the stone “topaz,” though unrelated to the other gemstone of the same name.
In Culture-
Peridot is the birthstone for August and the gem for the 15th wedding anniversary.
Facts-
Mohs hardness 6.5-7
Refractive Index 1.65 to 1.69
Specific Gravity 3.34
