Peridot...

by Julie Lee of Julie's Jewelry Design, LLC

    Arizona Peridot, is mined right here in the USA and is a recent addition to our growing gemstone line. The United States has for many years been the largest producer of Peridot but is now getting major competition from China and Pakistan for that title. Deposits in Arizona are the major source of US Peridot.

    Peridot is the well-known gem variety of olivine, a species name for a series of magnesium-iron rich silicate minerals. It is a bright yellow-green to green gem stone, popular for thousands of years. As early as 1500 BC the Egyptians used peridot as a gem. Some historians even suspect that at least some of the "emeralds" worn by Cleopatra were actually dark green peridot.

    The Ancient Egyptians called peridot "The Gen of the Sun" because it was supposedly too bight to be visible in the sunny Egyptian desert. Legend also suggests that peridot can glow at night which made it easier for the Egyptians to see (and mine it) after sunset. The Romans called it "Evening Emerald" since its green color did not darken at night and it was still visible by lamplight.

    The earliest recorded production of peridot was in about 70 AD from St. John's Island (now Zebargad) in the Red Sea, about 54 kilometers off the coast of Egypt. The island was called "The Serpent Isle" because it was infested with many poisonous snakes, which interfered with mining activities. Most of the earliest known Peridot gems came from this location and small amounts of material are still being mined there today.

    Peridot Mesa, located on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona, is today the most productive locality for peridot in the world. A second Arizona location from which peridot is recovered is Buell Park, Apache County. The faceted stones produced from these locations are generally about one carat in size; two to three carat stones are not uncommon, but stones, particularly flawless ones, five carats and over are unusual. Stone as large as 15 and 22 carats have been cut from San Carlos Peridot.

    On the reservation, Peridot can be mined only by individual Native Americans or by individual families of Native Americans from the San Carlos Reservation. In the past, the miners have not marketed the Peridot directly to the gem stone industry. They marketed the material in random size lots to local brokers or mineral dealers. Currently, the Apache miners are marketing the material directly to the industry and are also contracting for cutting services and marketing cut stones.

    Faceted Arizona Peridot is highly prized locally, but also enjoys widespread popularity for it's color and U.S. origin. Additional sources of its popularity are that Peridot is the traditional birthstone for the month of August and that it represents the 16th wedding anniversary. Wearing peridot is thought to bring success, peace, and good luck. This gem was also thought to help dreams become a reality, and it is often given as a symbol of fame, dignity, and protection.

    Other mystical properties associated with Peridot throughout history are that it could ward off anxiety, enhance speech articulation, inspire happiness, strengthen and regenerate the body and mind, and promote success in relationships and marriage. There are many ancient legends attesting to the power of this gem.

    We offer you many choices of Arizona Peridot,  "AA" quality stones of medium dark slightly yellowish green color that are eye clean or have slight imperfections.  The shapes available are diamond cut round, oval, pear, trillion, radiant straight baguette, princess cut squares, and radiant cut octagons.