igneous
Peridotite (Olivine-bearing Xenolith)
Peridotite (predominantly Forsterite Olivine, Mg2SiO4)
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Light yellowish-green to olive-green olivine crystals embedded in a dark grey matrix; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Granular/phaneritic; Cleavage: Poor
- Hardness
- 6
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Light yellowish-green to olive-green olivine crystals embedded in a dark grey matrix; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Granular/phaneritic; Cleavage: Poor
Formation & geological history
Formed in the Earth's upper mantle under high temperatures and pressures. Often brought to the surface as mantle xenoliths within basaltic lava flows or kimberlite pipes during volcanic eruptions.
Uses & applications
Primary source of the gemstone peridot; valuable for geological research into mantle composition and deep-Earth geochemical processes.
Geological facts
Mantle xenoliths represent actual samples from tens to hundreds of kilometers deep within Earth's interior that were rapidly carried up by magma.
Field identification & locations
Identified by distinct green sugary-textured olivine grains protruding from dark volcanic host rock. Common in volcanic regions such as Hawaii, Arizona, and volcanic fields globally.
