mineral
Peridot (Olivine)
Olivine, (Mg, Fe)2SiO4
Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: Lime, olive, or yellowish-green; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic; Cleavage: Poor; Specific Gravity: 3.27-3.37
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Lime, olive, or yellowish-green
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: Lime, olive, or yellowish-green; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic; Cleavage: Poor; Specific Gravity: 3.27-3.37
Formation & geological history
Formed deep within the Earth's mantle and brought to the surface by volcanic activity in basaltic rocks. It can also be found in certain types of meteorites (pallasites).
Uses & applications
Primary use is as a gemstone in jewelry. Industrial-grade olivine is used as a flux for steel production, in refractory materials, and as an abrasive.
Geological facts
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occurs in only one color: green. It is the birthstone for August and has been found in comet dust and on the moon.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive 'oily' bottle-green color and glass-like fracture. Common locations include Arizona (USA), Pakistan, Myanmar, and volcanic islands like Hawaii.
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Green Apatite on Albite
Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]
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Epidote - Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)3(SiO4)3(OH)
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