Fun Facts About August's Birthstone: Peridot
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August’s birthstone is peridot – a gemstone that is perfect for the summertime! Most peridot found in jewelry is a bright yellowish green but the gem can range from brownish green to pure green. Here are some more fun facts about peridot!
- Peridot is the gem variety of olivine, a mineral with a chemical composition that includes iron and magnesium. The iron in the gems is what causes peridot’s yellowish-green color.
- Peridot is often found in volcanic rock. It is formed deep inside the earth and is then delivered to the surface by volcanoes. In rare cases, peridot has an extraterrestrial origin and arrives on our planet via comets!
- Since its discovery, peridot has been associated with light. The Egyptians called peridot the “gem of the sun.” However, the word peridot means “gem” and came from the Arabic word “faridat.”
- Many historians believe that peridot may have been confused with other gemstones in ancient times. Ancient Egyptians often labeled peridot as topaz. Germany’s Cologn Cathedral houses 200-ct gems that were believed for centuries to be emeralds, but are peridot. Some historians even believe that Cleopatra’s famous emerald collection might have actually been peridot!
- Peridots commonly have inclusions called “lily pads,” which appear as reflective disks within the gemstones.
- Peridot is August’s birthstone, as well as the 15th-anniversary gemstone.
- Peridot ranks 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.
- Some ancient civilizations believed that peridot could protect its own from “terrors of the night,” especially when set in gold.
- Some also believed that peridot could ward off evil spirits, so they tied them on their arms using donkey hair as string.
- In 2005, peridot was found in comet dust that the Stardust robotic space probe brought back to earth!
