Preface Introduction Peridot Picfest! Photo & Graphics Credits Invitation to Members Past Minerals of the Month			Peridot from Red Sea, Egypt from mindat.org
		Of Apple green its inner sheen...
		...hue holding place from outer space: Peridot!
		The above image is courtesy of Isaias Casanova of IC Minerals ©2005

Preface    

     Peridot is a wondrous gemstone!  Found in volcanic rocks and in some meteorites as
an accessory, and most widely in riverbeds, this truly apple green crystal is easy to discern
from its surrounding rock.

     In this month's Mineral of the Month, we will be offering more and larger pictures.  In
fact, we will be displaying a gallery of fine photos of peridot specimens from around the world! 
We will save the science for another day, so as to not interfere with our viewing pleasure of
this spectacular crystal.  Please, do enjoy.  (And no hard hats required this trip!)

Introduction

     Peridots are almost unique in the mineral kingdom.  As they form only one way, through
volcanism, they are only found in igneous rocks from Earth and from those that land here
from interplanetary space.  Their greenish hue sometimes connotes any eery, otherworldly
feeling, like the special fluorescent green favored by movie and television show special effects
creators. 

     This month, we are going to set aside our jewelry, and partake in an ocular feast of
this somewhat scary gemstone.  Let's view!

 

Peridot Picfest!

Peridot rough from the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona  Image courtesy of USGS

 

Fosterite var. Peridot from Zabarjad, St. John's Island, Egypt Images courtesy of Isaias Casanova at IC Minerals © 2005

 

 

  

Until Next Time

     We hope you enjoyed your virtual peridot tour.   Perhaps your experience will inspire you
to collect peridot, or even to travel a bit to witness them for yourself in your local museum.

    
     Until then, stay safe, and happy collecting.

 

Photo & Graphics Credits

Isaias Casanova, IC Minerals
Jolyon Ralph, mindat.org
ICA/ Bart Curren through the United States Geological Survey

I would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions of our fellow peridot
enthusiasts, collectors, authors, curators, professionals, and club members who made this
work possible.  Thanks.

 

© 2005  All contributions to this article are covered under the copyright protection of this article
and by separate and several copyright protection(s), and are to be used for the sole purposes of
enjoying this scholarly article.  They are used gratefully with express written permission of the
authors, save for generally-accepted scholarly quotes, short in nature, deemed legal to reference
with the appropriate citation and credit.  Reproduction of this article must be obtained by express
written permission of the author, Kenneth B. Casey, for his contributions, authoring, photos, and
graphics.  Use of all other credited materials requires permission of each contributor separately.
Links and general contact information are included in the credits above, and throughout this article.
The advice offered herein are only suggestions; it is the reader's charge to use the information
contained herein responsibly.  DMS is not responsible for misuse or accidents caused from this
article.  All opinions, theories, proofs, and views expressed within this article, and in others
on this website, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Delaware Mineralogical Society.

About the Author:  Ken is current webmaster of the Delaware Mineralogical Society.  He has a diploma in Jewelry Repair, Fabrication & Stonesetting from the Bowman Technical School, Lancaster, PA, and worked as jeweler.  He has also studied geology at the University of Delaware.  And, he is currently a member of the Delaware Mineralogical Society and the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society.  E-mail: kencasey98@yahoo.com.