August Birthstone

Peridot, is called “Pele’s tears” by the Hawaiians. It is the gemstone for August. This beautiful gem ranges in color from a transparent brownish or yellowish green to greenish yellow. Peridot, sometimes called olivine, is most commonly seen in bright lime greens to subtle olive greens. An important source of peridot is the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona. Other sources are Myanmar and Pakistan. It measures 6.5 -7 on the Mohs scale and has fair to good toughness. Peridot is brought up by the volcano from deep inside the earth. The green sand on the beach at Papakolea on the Big Island is peridot.

2012-07-31