Peridot
Real mineral · uncommon · (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄
The gem variety of olivine, coloured green by iron. One of the few gemstones that occurs in only one colour. Found in basaltic volcanic rocks and in pallasitic meteorites, making it one of the oldest gem materials known.
Identity
- Formula
- (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄
- Chemical class
- silicate
- Mineral group
- Olivine
- Also known as
- Olivine (mineral), Chrysolite (archaic)
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- orthorhombic
- Habits
- massive, granular, tabular
- Fracture
- conchoidal
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 3.32 g/cm³
- Luster
- vitreous
- Colors
- green, yellow-green, olive green, brown
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
Geology
- Origins
- igneous, metamorphic
- Host rocks
- basalt, dunite, pallasitic meteorites
- Associated minerals
- pyroxene, Spinel, Chromite
- Geography
- Egypt (Zabargad), Pakistan, Myanmar, USA (Arizona), China
Classification
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Gem quality
- Yes
Arcane properties
- Affinity
- earth, life
- Effects
- healing, elemental earth
- Planar origin
- Material Plane
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