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Olivine · (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄ · 6.5 to 7

Peridot

Updated

Listen · the peridot audiobook · 9 min

A gem from the mantle

0:00
9:02
12 chapters

Narrated by an AI voice (Kokoro, an open-source voice model) from a script we wrote from this page and its sources, fact-checked line by line.

3D render with peridot’s real optics (index 1.67)

Peridot is gem-quality olivine, a mineral that makes up much of the Earth’s upper mantle. It forms deep underground and reaches the surface as green grains inside chunks of mantle rock carried up by volcanoes. Its colour comes from iron that is part of the mineral itself, which is why peridot is always some shade of green. It is plentiful and inexpensive, is almost never treated, and is August’s birthstone. Olivine also turns up in some meteorites.

From the ground to your hand

From the rock to the finished piece. Where gems are mined.

  1. 01 In the ground (step 1 of 4)

    A chunk of the Earth’s mantle carried up by a volcano at Peridot Mesa, San Carlos, Arizona. The green grains are peridot.

    A chunk of the Earth’s mantle carried up by a volcano at Peridot Mesa, San Carlos, Arizona. The green grains are peridot.

    Real specimen. Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0.

  2. 02 Rough (step 2 of 4)

    Tumbled peridot chips. Most gem peridot comes out of its host rock as small grains like these.

    Tumbled peridot chips. Most gem peridot comes out of its host rock as small grains like these.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

  3. 03 Cut (step 3 of 4)

    A faceted pair of natural peridot, 6 mm rounds.

    A faceted pair of natural peridot, 6 mm rounds.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

  4. 04 Set (step 4 of 4)

    Three natural peridots set in a sterling silver ring.

    Three natural peridots set in a sterling silver ring.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

Mineral
Olivine (forsterite)
Colour from
Iron, part of the mineral itself
Hardness
6.5 to 7
Grown in labs
Not commercially
Famous sources
Arizona, Pakistan, Myanmar, Egypt
A clear gem peridot crystal.
A clear gem peridot crystal. Photo: Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0.
A slice of a pallasite meteorite from the Atacama, found in 1822: golden-green olivine, the mineral of peridot, set in iron-nickel metal.
A slice of a pallasite meteorite from the Atacama, found in 1822: golden-green olivine, the mineral of peridot, set in iron-nickel metal. Photo: Daderot, CC0.

Peridot or a look-alike?

How to tell peridot from its common imitations
Natural peridotGlass, CZ or other green stones
DoublingStrong double refraction: through the top, the back facet edges look doubled under a loupeGlass and CZ show single, sharp edges
ColourOlive to lime green, with a slight yellow or brown tintOften too bright or too even
InsideSmall disc-shaped "lily pad" are typicalRound bubbles (glass) or none
Hardness6.5 to 7Glass about 5.5; CZ about 8
PriceLow to moderate; large clean stones cost moreVery low

Peridot is one of the easiest coloured gems to buy honestly: it is plentiful, inexpensive and almost never treated. The listings we picked name natural peridot.

Treatments. Peridot is almost never treated. Imitations are glass, cubic zirconia and other green stones; the quickest check is a loupe, because peridot doubles the back facet edges strongly. Peridot is a little soft for everyday rings and dislikes sudden heat and acids, so take it off for cleaning jobs and avoid steam cleaners. All gem treatments explained.

Where peridot is mined

Pins mark mining districts, not exact mines. Drag to move, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap a pin to read about it. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

List of every place on the map (4)
  • Peridot: Peridot Mesa, San Carlos, USA. On the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona: peridot weathers out of mantle rock carried up in lava. A major source of commercial peridot.
  • Peridot: Sapat, Kohistan, Pakistan. High-altitude mines known for large, clean peridot since the 1990s.
  • Peridot: Mogok, Myanmar. Fine large peridot alongside ruby and spinel.
  • Peridot: Zabargad (St John’s Island), Red Sea, Egypt. The ancient source, mined for thousands of years.

How is peridot cut?

Peridot is cut in all the usual faceted shapes and as and beads. Most rough comes as small grains, so stones over a few carats are uncommon. Its strong double refraction can make facet edges look fuzzy, so cutters orient the stone to keep the doubling down. See cuts from easiest to hardest and whether cutting your own is cheaper than buying cut.

Which peridot should you buy?

Listing photos; prices are rounded. How we choose.

Amazon prices as of . Prices and availability are accurate as of that date and time and are subject to change; the price shown on Amazon at the time of purchase applies.

Garnet, another affordable birthstoneMoldavite, green glass from a meteoriteGem treatments explained

Your kit for peridot

Tools to check your stone →

LookGemOro 10x triplet loupeabout $15LookDARKBEAM filtered 365 nm UV flashlightabout $13HandleHonoson locking tweezers, 3 packabout $10StoreTeensery gem display boxes with clear lids, 10 packabout $9ShowComXim motorized turntable, adjustable speed and directionabout $14MeasureGemOro Platinum XP500 pocket scale, 0.01 gabout $40

In short

Peridot is gem olivine from the Earth’s mantle, carried up by volcanoes and coloured green by its own iron. It is inexpensive, almost never treated and August’s birthstone. Check for doubled facet edges under a loupe, and treat it a little gently in rings.

See our first pick: Gem Stone King green peridot stud earrings, 2.00 ct total, sterling silver

Frequently Asked Questions

Is peridot a precious stone?

It is usually called semi-precious, a trade term rather than a scientific one. Fine large peridot can still be valuable, but most is affordable because it is plentiful.

Does peridot come from space?

Almost all peridot in jewellery formed in the Earth’s mantle. Olivine also occurs in pallasite meteorites, and a few stones have been cut from them, but those are rare collector pieces.

Why is peridot always green?

Its colour comes from iron that is part of olivine’s own chemistry, not from a trace impurity. That makes it one of the few gems found in only one colour family, from yellow-green to olive.

Sources

Photo credits

  • peridot-mesa-xenolith.webp: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • peridot-crystal-clear.webp: Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • pallasite-olivine-atacama.webp: Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Product photos: Amazon listings, via the Amazon Product Advertising (Creators) API.

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