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Olivine is a combination of two minerals fayalite and forsterite in which the former is rich in iron and the latter in magnesium. Due to rich iron content it has a higher refractive index and a darker color. The gemstone variety of this mineral Olivine is known as “Peridot”. Apart from “Peridot”, it is also known as “evening emerald” and “chrysolite”. The gemmy olivine variety was known as chrysolite which is now restricted to yellowish green colored olivine.
The other name for olivine’s gemstone is “evening emerald”. This variety of Olivine is generally cut in classical table shapes, octahedron, or oval. Olivine is mainly known as magnesium iron silicates which are found in iron nickel meteorites and also in igneous rocks.
The origin of peridot dates back in the Egyptian age. This olivine gemstone variety was widely used in the jewelries of the Egyptians. It is very valuable since it is available in only one color. This stone derived its name from the Greek word “Peridona” meaning ‘to give richness”. The cat’s eye and the star variety of this stone are very precious. It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 as measured on the Mohs scale.
The color of this stone varies from yellowish green to brownish green and are found in the places like Pakistan and Afghanistan, Myanmar, China, USA, Africa and Australia. Peridots coming from East Myanmar have a beautiful light green color with fine inclusions. The Arizona peridots have yellowish to gold brown hues which are mostly used in American jewelries.
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