Peridot

Peridot (PARE-uh-doe or PARE-uh-dot) is gemstone-quality olivine; it is always green because its colour comes from its actual chemical composition rather than the presence of impurities (which is how most stones get their colour), but the colour can still vary from a light yellow-green to a dark brownish-green, depending on the amount of iron present in the mineral’s chemical composition. Some people also refer to this stone as chrysolite, and this term is especially used for the yellow-green varieties.

The Egyptian island of Zagbargad was the most important source of peridot for over 3,000 years. In fact, the name of the island is the Arabic word for peridot. Some meteorites have been found to contain peridot, and olivine has been found on the moon and Mars.

It has a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7 and an orthorhombic crystal structure.

It is the main birthstone for August, the alternate being sardonyx.

Location: Some of the finest peridot comes from Pakistan, Myanmar (Burma), and Vietnam; China has become a major producer in recent years, and other sources include Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and the United States.

Properties: Peridot resonates with the solar plexus chakra and heart chakra, meaning it helps with will and compassion. More specifically, peridot helps increase receptivity to all manners of wealth and facilitate manifestation, which is accomplished at least in part by the revelation of areas where the person has felt unworthy of receiving various forms of wealth and prosperity in the past. Peridot can be used to dissolve fixations on guilt and regret for past errors, as well as alleviating fears about karmic debts, freeing the wearer to pursue the path before them rather than fixating on the past. It helps the wearer to act on their heart’s desires while also being generous to others. Because it resonates with nature energies, it is also useful for connecting with Earth and Nature spirits.

It is also believed to have some effect in treating eye, heart, lung, spleen, and intestinal disorders, as well as facilitating labor.