Gems, Precious Stones, Precious Metals - Peridot

Peridot - Gem Color 16 - #E6E200

Peridot is gem-quality olivine. Olivine is a silicate mineral. It is sometimes mistaken for emeralds and other green gems. Peridot olivine is the birthstone for the month of August.

Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color, an olive green. The intensity and tint of the green, however, depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow- to olive- to brownish-green. The most valued color is a dark olive-green.

Olivine in general is a very abundant mineral, but gem quality peridot is rather rare. This mineral is precious. Peridot olivine is mined in Egypt, North Carolina, Arizona on the San Carlos Reservation, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico at Kilbourne Hole, in the US.