Peridot has captivated jewelers and healers over time with its striking shades of green and yellow, not to mention its rich history dating back to Ancient Egypt. Artifacts made with peridot crystal have been uncovered for centuries throughout many cultures, and it continues to be used to this day. What’s the scoop on the peridot stone?

Compared to other green gemstones like emerald and jade, peridot comes in lighter tones with hints of yellow. Like other green stones boasting good fortune, it’s often associated with good health and prosperity. And what is the peridot mineral group? Peridot is a semi-precious chrysolite or olivine mineral gemstone that sits between 6.5-7 on the Mohs hardness scale. How is peridot formed? It is one of the only semi-precious gemstones not formed in the Earth’s crust but in the molten rock of the Earth’s upper mantle.

As such, mining peridot gems is a complex process, and thus, they won’t typically be uncovered in shallow digs. In its mineral form, peridot is known as olivine, which can be found around the world in lava, ulta matic, mafia rocks, and even meteorites. That’s right – peridot comes from outer space!

What color is peridot, and why does it come in various shades of green? The presence of iron determines the intensity of green we see in peridot gemstones. More iron creates a deeper green, while less iron makes the stone more translucent.

You may have heard of peridot under its pseudonym, chrysolite, but the two are the same gemstone.

If you’re in the market for a peridot crystal, there are a few different types you may want to consider before buying.

Types of Peridot

Because peridot stone is somewhat common around the world, it’s often categorized by its origin.

Changbai peridot is Chinese in origin, mined in the Changbai Mountain Region of Northeast China. Any jeweler will agree that Changbai peridot is one of the finest variations of the stone, with its deep green and bright lime tones. Peridot found in this area is also free of inclusions, giving it an excellent clarity rating, with most stones coming in at around one carat.

Pakistani peridot is mined in Kashmir, an area that sits in high altitude with an extreme climate. On the color spectrum, Pakistani peridot is closer to a granny smith apple or lime green with gold undertones. It’s much brighter than its Chinese cousin and comes in a larger variety of carat sizes.

Hunan peridot is also found in China, but in a southeastern province. If the Changbai peridot weren’t clear enough, the Hunan variety is world-class in its level of transparency and clarity. As such, the cut of this stone becomes extremely important. Hunan stones are a bit more yellow-green than other variants.

While origin plays a significant role in dictating peridot color and value, there are other gemstone characteristics used to identify these beautiful green jewels.