Peridot: meaning, properties and lore

The mineral

Its chemical formula is written (Mg,Fe)2SiO4, and the stone has a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7. Its specific gravity is 2.63 to 2.65, and it has fair to good toughness that suits jewelry wear.^12345697810

Peridot's colour depends on how much iron is in its structure, with more iron giving a deeper green. The colour range runs from brown-green to yellowish green to pure green, and the most favoured hue is a richly saturated pure grass green.¹¹⁰³²

Crystals of peridot occur in prismatic form of the rhombic system, although they are rarely of good or perfect shape. The best-quality stones have no eye-visible inclusions, and peridot commonly contains reflective, disk-shaped inclusions called lily pads. Readily visible dark spots lower the value of a stone, and brown undertones lower it further.⁹¹⁰¹¹

Most peridot formed deep inside the earth and reached the surface through volcanic activity, often in volcanic basalt rocks. Geologists believe these deposits relate to sea floor spreading, when rocks from the mantle are pushed up to the surface. Some peridot has also arrived on Earth in pallasite meteorites made of nickel-iron and olivine.¹²³²⁴

Gem miners find peridot in lava flows in several countries, including the United States, China, and Vietnam, and in some cases as irregular nodules. Other localities include Pakistan, Burma, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Peridot Mesa on the San Carlos Apache Nation in Arizona. Zabargad Island in the Red Sea is a historic source that is not currently producing commercially.³¹⁴¹⁰

Peridot is stable to light, yet it can be damaged by some acids and by long-term exposure to acidic perspiration. Rapid or uneven heat can cause it to fracture, and no peridot is known to be heated to improve its appearance. Synthetic peridot is produced but not commonly, and its colour is natural and not enhanced.⁷⁴¹⁰¹

History and lore

Peridot has a long record of use. Jewelry pieces are said to date back to the Pharaohs in Egypt, and the Egyptians called the gem the "gem of the sun." Peridot appeared in priests' jewelry as early as the second century BCE and later in the chalices and churches of medieval Europe. The only record of peridot use in ancient Egypt is a scarab of the Eighteenth Dynasty.¹²¹²⁴⁵

Early records indicate that ancient Egyptians mined peridot on an island in the Red Sea called Topazios, now known as St. John's Island or Zabargad. This is the oldest recorded source of the gem. Legend holds that the island was infested with snakes until an enterprising pharaoh drove them into the sea. The Isle of St. John was strictly guarded in former times because its supply was a monopoly of the Khedive of Egypt.¹²⁴⁹

Strabo and Pliny called peridot topaz, since both writers state that this was obtained from St. John's island locality. The term topaz was originally also used for yellow peridots, and from the earliest times the gem was confused with other stones and labelled as topaz. Some historians believe Cleopatra's famous emerald collection might actually have been peridot.⁵⁹¹²

For centuries, the gems adorning the shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Cologne Cathedral were believed to be emeralds, but they are in fact peridots. The name peridot is said to come from the Arabic "faridat," meaning "gem." Peridot is also called "Evening Emerald" because it keeps its shining colour under artificial light.¹²⁴¹

Chrysolite was known as the precious stone and was often valued more than the diamond. In the History of Monsieur Oufle, quoted by Brand, chrysolite set in gold and worn was advised to expel phantoms and rid people of folly. Olivine was named by Werner in 1790.⁸

Birthstone and zodiac links

Peridot is the birthstone for August, and the link is set by the American birthstone list. Peridot is the 15th anniversary gemstone in another list.²⁴

Crystal practitioners list peridot as August's birthstone, and they say it is also known as chrysolite. Practitioners link peridot with the Earth element and with the ruling planets Venus and Mercury, a modern astrological framing.

Practitioners associate peridot with the modern modern modern zodiac signs Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Scorpio and Sagittarius, and this is a modern link. Practitioners also associate it with the numerical vibrations 6 and 8.

What crystal practitioners say

Practitioners tend to describe peridot first in terms of the mind. Crystal practitioners say the stone is thought to sharpen and open the mind to new levels of awareness, and it is associated with banishing lethargy, apathy and exhaustion. Practitioners also say it encourages greater responsibility for one's own life, and it is believed to align one's actions with their purpose.

Crystal practitioners associate peridot with emotional release. It is associated with alleviating jealousy, resentment, spite, bitterness, irritation, hatred and greed, as well as reducing stress, anger and guilt.

Crystal practitioners describe peridot as a protective stone. Practitioners have used it as a protective talisman, shielding the owner from evil spirits and terrors of the night. Practitioners also say the stone is believed to be a lucky stone for attracting wealth, prosperity and success, and it is said to invite abundance and ease in manifestation.⁴

Crystal practitioners relate peridot to the heart and to new beginnings. It is associated with opening the heart to joy and new relationships, enhancing confidence and assertion, and motivating growth and change. Practitioners regard peridot as a revitalising and cleansing stone, and they consider it a tonic for both the mind and body that promotes vibrant well-being.

Crystal practitioners describe peridot as a strong and dependable crystal. For cleansing, practitioners say peridot can be placed under moonlight, especially a full moon, for several hours. Others smudge it with sage, palo santo or other cleansing herbs, or cleanse it with sound vibrations from a singing bowl or bell.

What testing has found

Edzard Ernst, in his analysis of 150 complementary and alternative treatments, concluded that rigorous trials testing the therapeutic value of crystal healing are lacking. Ernst further stated that no scientific proof exists for any positive effect of crystal healing beyond a placebo effect.¹³

In 2001, British psychologist Christopher French tested whether 80 volunteers could distinguish genuine crystals from imitations after holding them and meditating.¹³

Crystal healing believers may attribute pleasant feelings to the placebo effect or to cognitive bias in wanting it to be true, according to Ernst. The tests therefore give no support to the view that peridot itself produces the effects practitioners describe.¹³