mineral

Olivine (Peridot)

Magnesium Iron Silicate (Mg,Fe)2SiO4

Hardness: 6.5–7.0 (Mohs scale); Color: Olive-green, yellow-green, or brownish; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Orthorhombic; Specific Gravity: 3.27–4.37; Cleavage: Poor.

Hardness: 6
Color: Olive-green, yellow-green, or brownish
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 9, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 6.5–7.0 (Mohs scale); Color: Olive-green, yellow-green, or brownish; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Orthorhombic; Specific Gravity: 3.27–4.37; Cleavage: Poor.

Formation & geological history

Formed in the Earth's mantle and brought to the surface by volcanic activity (igneous environments). It is one of the first minerals to crystallize from magma. Found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks like basalt, gabbro, and peridotite.

Uses & applications

Gem-quality specimens (Peridot) are used in jewelry. Industrial-grade olivine is used in metal casting (sand casting), as a refractory material for lining furnaces, and for carbon sequestration research.

Geological facts

Olivine is a primary component of the Earth's upper mantle. It has also been discovered in meteorites (Pallasites) and identified on the surface of Mars and the Moon.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its distinct olive-green color, glassy luster, and granular texture (often appearing as small sugary crystals in basalt). Commonly found in volcanic regions like Hawaii, Arizona, and Norway.

Other mineral specimens

See all

Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Epidote

Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)

metamorphic

Nephrite Jade

Nephrite

Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

Metamorphic Rock

Green Apatite on Albite

Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]

mineral

Epidote

Epidote - Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)3(SiO4)3(OH)

mineral