Gemstone profile and identification guide
Peridot is easiest to understand by starting with green and brown colour. That combination of green body colour, 6.5 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre is what usually makes it recognisable in practice. The secondary brown note often matters more than people expect when separating it from lookalikes.
Peridot is easiest to understand by starting with green and brown colour. That combination of green body colour, 6.5 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre is what usually makes it recognisable in practice. The secondary brown note often matters more than people expect when separating it from lookalikes.
Use this profile as a collector reference and educational guide for quick on-page comparison, then validate with the interactive identification system.
Name: Peridot
Scientific classification: Nesosilicate (Olivine Group)
Hardness: 6.75 Mohs
Transparency: transparent
Lustre: vitreous
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Primary colour: Green
Secondary colour: Brown
Colour family: Greens
A practical identification pass begins with the visible basics: transparent transparency, vitreous lustre, 6.5 Mohs hardness, and a hexagonal crystal system. The interaction between green and brown tones is more useful than the primary colour alone when comparing candidates. Useful side-by-side comparisons include Topaz, Moonstone, Tanzanite.
Status: verified-core-fields
Reference priority: GIA, Gem-A, Mindat, International Gem Society
Core identity fields reviewed against consensus gemological references (GIA/Gem-A/Mindat/IGS).
Some market- and locality-level details may still require citation-grade source notes for publication workflows.
Hardness category: medium
Hardness value: 6.75 Mohs
Chemical composition: Magnesium iron silicate [(Mg,Fe)2SiO4]
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Common locations: Pakistan (Kohistan), China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Arizona (USA)
Learn more: Gem-A gemstone education resources.
Peridot sits in the greens grouping here, usually reading first as green with brown appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
Optical effects: None specified in the current dataset.
Mineral species: Olivine (gem peridot)
Mineral group: Olivine group
Chemical formula: Magnesium iron silicate [(Mg,Fe)2SiO4]
Mohs hardness: 6.75
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Lustre: vitreous
Transparency: transparent
Streak: White
Cleavage: Poor
Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
Specific gravity: 3.27-3.37
Refractive index: 1.65-1.69
Optical phenomena: None commonly reported
Colour range: Green, Brown
Common inclusions: Lily-pad stress inclusions, crystals, and fracture features
Geological environment: Peridot occurs in Mantle-derived igneous rocks and basaltic volcanic environments. Its Orthorhombic structure reflects the pressure-temperature conditions of those host rocks, with notable occurrences in Pakistan (Kohistan), China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Arizona (USA).
Principal mining regions: Pakistan (Kohistan), China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Arizona (USA)
Important commercial sources: Current commercial production includes Pakistan, China, Myanmar, and Arizona (USA)
Historical significance: Peridot has been used as a gem since antiquity and remains a major green jewelry stone.
Common treatments: Generally untreated in trade.
Synthetic or imitation forms: Glass and synthetic substitutes can imitate peridot color.
Common look-alikes: topaz, moonstone, tanzanite
Jewellery uses: Peridot is used chiefly for A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 6.75 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Care recommendations: Peridot should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 6.75 in the Orthorhombic system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Protect cleavage directions from sharp knocks during wear and setting.
Cross-check profile data with GIA Gem Encyclopedia and Mindat entry for Peridot.
Peridot is a Olivine (gem peridot) material with chemistry Magnesium iron silicate [(Mg,Fe)2SiO4]. It develops in Mantle-derived igneous rocks and basaltic volcanic environments, and economically significant production is associated with Pakistan (Kohistan), China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Arizona (USA).
Current commercial production includes Pakistan, China, Myanmar, and Arizona (USA)
Best for: Peridot is used chiefly for A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 6.75 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Ideal uses: A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.
Peridot should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 6.75 in the Orthorhombic system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Protect cleavage directions from sharp knocks during wear and setting.
Need another candidate? Use advanced gemstone search or return to the identification guide.
Compare hardness (6.75 Mohs), crystal system (Orthorhombic), colour profile, and lustre (vitreous) with your sample. Then cross-check related gemstones listed above.
Peridot sits in the greens grouping here, usually reading first as green with brown appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
A good fit for collectors and jewellers looking for visible character without needing the highest hardness category.. For maintenance, follow the care guidance in this profile.
GIA: general gemstone identity (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
Gem-A: gemological education and terminology (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
Mindat: mineral species and locality index (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
International Gem Society: collector-facing gem reference (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
