Saturday, 31 July 2010

Peridot Jewellery

Introduction


All our Peridot items of jewellery are purchased from our suppliers under the provision that they were sourced under ethical conditions.

Peridot is one of the prettiest of all green gems, occurring in a colour that is the epitome of grass green.

Interestingly enough, the name topaz may have initially been applied to Peridot, for it is found on the island of Topazos (Zabargad) in the Red Sea.The name Peridot is used to describe the gem variety of the forsterite to fayalite olivine series.



What is Peridot


Properties of Peridot


Peridot is the gem variety of the olivine group, which has the following species:  Forsterite–Mg2SiO4 and Fayalite–Fe2SiO4 Hardness: (Mohs) 6.5 to 7

Cleavage: Imperfect to distinct in one direction (rarely seen)


Specific Gravity: 3.34 + 0.17,–0.07


Refractive Index: 1.654–1.690 (±0.020)


Birefringence: 0.035 to 0.038


Optic Character: Biaxial (positive or negative; the beta index is usually near halfway between alpha and gamma)


Crystal System: Orthorhombic; usually occurs as rounded pebbles; well formed crystals are quite rare.


Colours: Mainly green; sometimes yellow or brown


Pleochroism: Weak to moderate, dichroic


UV Fluorescence: Generally inert


Dispersion: 0.020


Phenomena: Cat’s eye and star peridot are known, but are rare


Handling: Ultrasonic: not safe; never clean peridot ultrasonically


Steamer: not safe


The best way to care for peridot is to clean it with warm, soapy water. Avoid exposure to heat, acids and rapid temperature changes.


Enhancements: Peridot is not typically enhanced.


Synthetic available? No


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