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| Peridot |
Birthstone Series - August: Peridot, Sardonyx and Spinel
According to
the American Gem Society, the month of August is the latest month to claim not
two but three birthstones: Peridot, Sardonyx and Spinel, now joining June and
December as the only months represented by three gems.
All three of
these stones have been seen throughout history and have rich symbolism. They
are all quite different, both in terms of quality and substance, as well as perceived metaphysical and mystic healing properties.
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| Pele, the Hawaiian Goddess of Fire, also known as Ka Wahine Ai Honua (The Woman Who Devours the Land) |
Peridot, by
far the most popular of the three, is the rare gem-quality variety of the common mineral olivine, which forms deep inside the earth's mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanoes. In Hawaii, peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess of fire who controls the flow of lava. Rarely, peridot is also found inside meteorites. In the 1700s, a meteorite that landed in Siberia contained many peridot crystals that were large enough to be used for jewelry.
Peridot’s
color, a distinctive signature lime green, comes from the composition of the
mineral itself, rather than from trace impurities as with many other gems. That’s
why this is one of the few stones that only comes in one color, though shades may
vary from yellowish-green to olive to brownish-green, depending on how much iron
is present.
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| Arizona Peridot and Banded Agate Necklace set in Sterling Silver (ADORA by Simona design) |
Many scholars
agree that the name Peridot is rooted in the Greek word peridona,
meaning “giving plenty.” Perhaps that’s why peridot is associated with
prosperity and good fortune.
Most of the
world’s peridot supply comes from the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona. Other
sources are China, Myanmar, Pakistan and Africa. Peridot only
measures 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, so while the raw crystal is prone to
cracking during cutting, the finished gemstones are fairly robust and easy to
wear.
Also known as
“the Evening Emerald” because its sparkling green hue looks brilliant any time
of day, peridot is said to possess healing properties that protect against
nightmares and evil, ensuring peace and happiness.
The largest
peridot ever found weighs 319 carats and it can be viewed on display at the
Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
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| Sardonyx |
Sardonyx
combines alternating layers of sard and onyx - two types of the layered mineral
chalcedony - to create a reddish zebra-striped stone with white bands. Used as
a stone of strength and protection since ancient times, sardonyx is associated
with courage, happiness, and clear communication. Some believe that placing
sardonyx at each corner of a house will grant protection against evil.
Spinel. Before the
rise of modern gemology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Spinel was often identified as corundum because it tends to resemble either a ruby or sapphire, and they are often found
in the same mines. In fact, some of the most famous rubies in history have
turned out to be spinel. Large red gems, such
as the “Black Prince’s Ruby” and
the “Timur Ruby” in the Crown Jewels of England have confirmed to be large red
spinels. Nevertheless, spinel is chemically distinct, what sets it apart from
other gems is its octahedral crystal structure and single refraction. Having a
rating of 8, spinel also has a lower Mohs hardness than ruby and sapphire.
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| Spinel, in all its beautiful colors |
Vivid red is
the most desirable color of spinel gemstones, followed by cobalt blue, bright
pink and bright orange. The more affordable stones are often those with paler
colors, like lavender. You may also find spinel in black, violet blue, greenish
blue, grayish, pale pink, mauve, yellow or brown. So many choices!
Happy Birthday to all of those born in August!
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