This stone was used in religious jewelry. Due to the presence of iron it has an olive or bottle-green color. It has oily or greasy lustre when viewed from the front. Doubling of the back facets can be seen because of high birefringence of the stone. Good quality stones are rare. Peridot is the gem quality variety of the mineral olivine.
It has been mined for over 3500 years in Egypt. In China, Brazil, Myanmar, Hawaii, Australia, Norway, South Africa and Arizona (USA) are the other countries it may found.
When cutting and polishing, this gemstone can be cut as pendeloque, step and cabochon.
