Peridot

Peridot, the glittering green gemstone is the birthstone of Leo (Lion) for people born between 23rd July & 22nd August. Peridot has been recognized by people down the centuries as a stone providing foresight and divine inspiration. There are many legends surrounding it and one of them goes on to say that the pirates wore them to ward off evil. It is even heard that since the Egyptian kings were in great favor of Peridot, some of Cleopatra’s emeralds were in reality peridots.

Peridot, also called as ‘olivine’ is transparent green olivine. The transparent green olivine as peridot is also known as has a conchoidal fracture. It is basically magnesium iron silicate which occurs in other glittering colors like lime, yellowish green, olive green or medium dark green. The gem-quality olivine is a mineral composed of mainly the earth’s mantel i.e. the layer beneath the earth’s crust. It also a common occurrence in the basalts found on the surface of the moon.

Chrysolite is a golden yellow version of peridot whose name means ‘golden stone’ in Greek language. Peridot should be kept away from drastic temperature fluctuations and should never be cleaned with any sort of ultrasonic cleanser. It is also the stone signifying the sixteenth year of marriage. Peridot has been a woman’s pride because of its availability in different shapes and sizes.

Apart from enhancing the beauty of a person it is also used as a healing stone. It increases the health, prevents nervousness, helps liver and adrenal to function properly and also protects lungs, sinuses and wrists from external injury or illness. Peridot, the stone believed to attract love also helps one to achieve his or her dream. The deep green glow is said to attract wealth and calm the angst of anyone. It leads one to sleep peacefully and expels all the negative thoughts from one’s mind.

There are rich deposits of Peridot in Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Burma, Pakistan, Norway and USA though it has been mined from St. John’s Island for more than 3500 years. The peridots are the finest specimen of the green gemstone ever seen.