mineral

Olivine (Peridot)

(Mg,Fe)2SiO4

Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, typically olive-green in color, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and an orthorhombic crystal system.

Identified July 30, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, typically olive-green in color, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and an orthorhombic crystal system.

Formation & geological history

Formed in high-temperature, low-pressure environments, commonly found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks such as peridotite, gabbro, and basalt, as well as in stony meteorites.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as a gemstone (peridot), in refractory bricks for furnaces, and as a source of magnesium.

Geological facts

Olivine is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's upper mantle and is frequently found in pallasite meteorites that originated from the core-mantle boundary of differentiated asteroids.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its characteristic olive-green color and granular habit. Commonly sourced from regions with extensive mantle rocks, such as parts of Arizona, Norway, Pakistan, and various oceanic islands.