Peridot
green · Olivine family
| Also known as | Olivine (Olivine family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Green, Yellow, Brown |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 |
| Lustre | Vitreous to oily |
| Streak | Colorless |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Transparency | Translucent to transparent |
| Cleavage | Poor on {010} and {110}, {010} cleavage improves with increasing iron content |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Specific gravity | 3.2–4.3 |
What is Peridot?
Peridot, sometimes called chrysolite, is a yellow-green transparent variety of olivine. Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color.
How to identify Peridot
- Lustre: Vitreous to oily.
- Hardness: Mohs 6.5–7 — about as hard as a steel knife.
- Streak: Colorless.
- Habit: Orthorhombic crystal system.
Peridot in different forms
Stones often confused with Peridot
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Peridot?
Peridot is Mohs 6.5–7 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Peridot?
Peridot is typically green, yellow, brown (Yellow, to yellow-green, olive-green, to brownish, sometimes a lime green, to emerald hue).