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Gemstone Glossary |
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Peridot |
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Gem-quality specimens of the mineral olivine are called peridot by gemologists. Peridot has an olive- or bottle green color due to the presence of iron, and a distinctive oily or greasy lustre. It has a high birefringence, so doubling of the back facets can easily be seen in larger specimens when viewed from the front. (Good-quality crystals arc very rare.
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Occurrence |
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Peridot is found on St. John's Island (Egypt), in China, Burma, Brazil, Hawaii and Arizona (USA), Australia, South Africa, and Norway.
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The Crusaders brought peridot to Europe in the middle Ages, transporting stones from St.John's Island in the Red Sea, where it had been mined for over 3,500 years.
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