New Acquisitions - Peridot
- Photography by Ken Larsen. Gift of David Villwock and Daniel Sarros in memory of Mark P. Herechede, Jr., 2009.
More than 3,000 years ago Egyptians fashioned beads from golden green crystals mined on an island in the Red Sea. Known to the Greeks and Romans as Topazios, this island off the coast of Egypt was one of the most important sources for fine peridot, the gem variety of the mineral forsterite. Originally called topazion, after the island, this gem was renamed peridot in the 18th century. The island is known today as Zabargad, the Arabic name for peridot. Other important sources of peridot include Burma, the United States (Arizona), Norway, Brazil, China, Australia, and Pakistan. Peridot is a magnesium-iron silicate; pure forsterite is colorless, but iron atoms replacing some of the magnesium produce the green shades. Too much iron results in unattractive dark-colored stones with brown tones. Peridot is most prized when it is an intense dark green color without undertones of yellow or brown, as seen here. This exceptionally well-cut extremely fine 46.16-carat stone is a beautiful and rare gem and now the largest peridot from Pakistan in the National Gem Collection.
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