Sources
Leading producer is the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona.
Others include China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka and Tanzania
Points of Interest
The main source of peridot in the ancient world was Topazo Island (now St. John) in the Egyptian Red Sea. Island habitants were forced to collect the gems for the Pharaoh’s treasury. Legend says that jealous watchers, who had orders to put to death any trespassers, guarded the entire island
Called “gem of the sun” by Egyptians
Used in a necklace, peridot is a protector against negative emotions.
Peridot is mentioned in many ancient references as chrysolite. It is mentioned throughout the Bible, and early Christians considered it sacred.
Today still, Catholic Bishops traditionally wear a ring of peridot and amethyst as a symbol of purity and morality.
In the middle ages, Europeans brought peridot stones back from the Crusades to decorate church plates and robes.
Napoleon once made a gift of peridot to Josephine as a symbol of undying love and admiration.
Peridot has been accredited with repelling night time terrors and driving away evil spirits. Yet it was said that a dream about peridot foretold impending danger.
It is one of the few gems that comes in but one hue
Peridot that may have formed on other planets has been found in meteorites
