PERIDOT
Specimen per-5

Dims: 13/16" x 1/2" x 3/8"

Wt: 4.2 g

San Carlos Reservation, Arizona, U.S.A.

This is the first complete Peridot crystal that I have seen. Its sides are heavily striated with a very fine "pebble" pattern, so it's difficult to determine the transparency and clarity of the crystal. Its edges are quite rounded, but crystal form is visible and definite. Looking at light passing thorough it, one can determine at least 3 internal fractures or flaws beneath the surface. Its color is a moderately deep yellow-green. I just happened to see these in a vendor's room at a show, and took every one that he had(there were only a few to begin with).

Dims: 7/16" x 3/8" x 1/4"

Wt: 1.0 g

San Carlos Reservation, Arizona, U.S.A.

A rather small crystal, this Peridot specimen has imperfect but definite form and good clarity. It is quite transparent, but has a large inclusion running from base to termination that looks like an internal fracture. Its luster ranges from vitreous to waxy, due to a pattern on most faces that resembles wear, but is actually part of its growth. The color is a medium yellow-green.

Dims: 7/16" x 3/8" x 5/16"

Wt: 1.4 g

San Carlos Reservation, Arizona, U.S.A.

This particular Peridot crystal has excellent crystal form, with well-defined edges and clean sides that have enabled me to find an extra treat within! Among the few veil-like inclusions and internal fractures, I actually saw what appear to be dark needles of rutile scattered in some areas. I suppose they could be some other type of mineral, such as cacoxenite, or even tourmaline, but they are a bit small for testing! Needless to say, the faces of this crystal are quite clear, showing a vitreous luster, and the color is the standard yellow-green of all Peridot. This particular crystal is one of the more defined ones of our selection.

Dims: 7/16" x 5/16" x 1/4"

Wt: 1.4 g

San Carlos Reservation, Arizona, U.S.A.

This crystal is somewhat like a "two-for-one special"; there are 2 crystals that interpenetrate along their y-axes. They run parallel to each other and looking down upon their terminations, it looks like they are "Siamese twins," two identical crystals that are joined together. They both have excellent form, with clean though sometimes damaged faces and edges. Their luster is vitreous to waxy, and with a 15-power loupe I was able to find 3 or 4 dark needles of an unknown mineral included in them. They have a uniform yellow-green color.

Dims: 0.9" x 0.6" x 0.4"(2.3 x 1.5 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 5.2 g

San Carlos Reservation, Arizona, U.S.A.

Probably the largest Peridot crystal that we have in stock, this individual has reasonably good form and a small amount of noticeable damage. It occurs in a flattened prismatic form with a six-sided, pinacoidal termination that has a conchoidal fracture right at its tip. It has good form, though, with little other damage, but there are a few faces that are not well formed. It has Peridot's standard olive-green coloration and its faces show a pearly luster. Though there are several veil-like inclusions, there is a substantial band of excellent clarity, allowing one to see through the transparent crystal. Its base is more of a gray color and is translucent at best, but looks as if it started to form a crystalline shape. It is certainly a large crystal, one of the bigger ones that I have seen.

Dims: 0.9" x 0.6" x 0.5"(2.3 x 1.5 x 1.3 cm)

Wt: 6.8 g

San Carlos Reservation, Arizona, U.S.A.

This specimen is actually a small cluster made up of one crystal that is partially grown into a second, much larger crystal. Both of them are colored the standard olive-green of Peridot, are in a flattened prismatic form, have a pearly luster, and are dimly transparent, with many internal fractures and veil-like inclusions. The larger crystal appears to have a partially-grown termination face at its base, but most of the material there is amorphous, dull-colored, and translucent. There are a few conchoidal fracture scars at its termination that likely occurred before it was separated from its point of origin. Part of its termination is sunk down to a level about 3 or 4 mm below the rest of it. The smaller crystal is incomplete and its crystal form is not as well-developed.

Dims: 0.9" x 0.6" x 0.6"(2.3 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm)

Wt: 6.9 g

San Carlos Reservation, Arizona, U.S.A.

A cluster of 2 Peridot crystals constitutes this specimen from the American southwest. All have definite crystal form, but are incomplete. The larger of the crystals has considerable clarity, and both are heavily internally fractured. They have a flattened prismatic form and incomplete terminations, but visible faces and edges are well-formed. Both have the olive-green color that is the hallmark of Peridot and a pearly luster. They rest on a bed of olivine that is much more gray in color and is translucent at best. A heavy break in the larger crystal makes it appear to be two different crystals, but they share a common termination face. One of these sections is quite clear, and a small stone could possibly be cut from it.

Dims: 1.2" x 1.0" x 0.9" (3.0 x 2.5 x 2.3 cm)

Wt: 1.06 oz. (30.1 g)

Kohistan, Pakistan

At least 4 intergrown Peridot crystals make up this specimen. They are in excellent condition, though the cluster contains the remnants of at least 2 broken, incomplete crystals. The largest crystal in the cluster is 3 times as large as the next smaller crystal, and has dimensions of 1.0 x 0.8 x 0.7" (2.5 x 2.0 x 1.8 cm). Though their faces are heavily striated and thier edges are rounded and indefinite, all have a definable, stubby orthorombic prismatic form and are topped by complex domed terminations. Their color is the olive-green that is standard for this gem material, and all have a pearly-to-vitreous luster. They are also transparent and contain substantial areas of clarity, though they have many internal fractures and inclusions. There is a small amount of a dull, white massive material in the crevices between the crystals- it is quite soft, and could be easily removed with a fine steel probe.

Dims: 0.9" x 0.8" x 0.5" (2.3 x 2.0 x 1.3 cm)

Wt: 7.9 g

Kohistan, Pakistan

This small thumbnail specimen consists of a single crystal that is in excellent condition and has some of the best crystal form that I have seen in Peridot. Its faces are pitted with a growth pattern, but are quite smooth and uninterrupted. Its edges are well-defined, accenting its orthorombic prismatic form. It has the olive-green coloration that is standard for this gemstone, and is transparent and quite clear, though there are many small inclusions visible within. It is one of the finest Peridot crystals in our stock.

Dims: 0.8" x 0.6" x 0.5" (2.0 x 1.5 x 1.3 cm)

Wt: 6.4 g

Kohistan, Pakistan

Another single crystal, this specimen has moderately good orthorombic prismatic form, with slightly rounded but still definable edges and faces that show a pearly-to-vitreous luster. It does not appear to have any fresh breakage surfaces, so I will venture to say that it likely was broken from its base before it was found and harvested, but it is missing a few of the many prism faces that it would normally have. It has the olive-green coloration that is standard for this gemstone, and its surfaces are heavily striated, so that it is difficult to view the interior. From what I can see, though, there are a few areas of substantial clarity that are divided up buy some pervasive veil-like inclusions. There are also a few small internal fractures.

Dims: 2.2 x 1.8 x 1.8" (5.6 x 4.6 x 4.6 cm)

Wt: 4.90 oz. (139.1 g)

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

Several Peridot crystals rest on the granular host rock of this specimen. All appear to be in very good condition, and they range in size from less than 0.1" (3 mm) along each axis to 0.6 x 0.4 x 0.3" (1.5 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm). Most are at least partly intergrown in groups of 2 or 3, and all have a rounded and rather indistinct orhtorhombic prismatic form. Their olive-green color is standard, of course, and their luster is generally dull and waxy, interfering with their reasonably good clarity. They are partly embedded in a milky-white crust of a rather soft material that reminds me of meerschaum, which is often carved into pipes for smoking. This crust coats part of the gray-brown host rock.

Dims: 1.0 x 0.5 x 0.4" (2.5 x 1.3 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 5.2 g

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

This thumbnail specimen is made up of anywhere from 3 to 8 parallel, heavily intergrown Peridot crystals. These crystals are so heavily intergrown that it is a bit difficult to count all of them. The largest of these crystals does not appear to exceed 0.5" (1.3 cm) in length, and all are generally in good condition, as there is one spot that shows considerable damage, and a few that show very minor damage. Their orthorhombic prismatic form is warped but still fair, as most still have some visible well-defined edges and striated but clean faces. They have the classic yellow-green coloration of Peridot and a pearly-to-vitreous luster, and are transparent and dimly to moderately clear due to cloudy inclusions and internal fractures. There is no host rock of any sort present.

Dims: 1.4 x 1.2 x 0.8" (3.6 x 3.0 x 2.0 cm)

Wt: 19.6 g

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

At least 8 discernable Peridot crystals rest in the fibrous matrix of this thumbnail specimen. Though at least half of these crystals are damaged or broken, the largest crystals, measuring 0.4" (1.0 cm) in length, are intact and in very good condition. Their orthohrombic prismatic form is moderately good, as both are somewhat warped and rounded due to growing conditions. They have the classic pale olive-green coloration and are transparent and reasonably clear, though their dull, waxy luster makes this difficult to see. The soft, white matrix in which they rest is strangely fibrous, and makes me think of asbestos in some respects. I cannot really identify it.

Dims: 1.7 x 1.3 x 1.1" (4.3 x 3.3 x 2.8 cm)

Wt: 1.05 oz. (29.7 g)

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

This specimen consists of a fibrous, white-to-brown host rock that contains several small Peridot crystals. Several of these crystals appear to be broken and incomplete, but the largest- which has visible dimensions of 0.4 x 0.2 x 0.1" (1.0 x 0.5 x 0.3 cm)- appears to be complete and mostly intact. However, none show an appreciable orthorhombic prismatic form, as they are all too rounded and warped. They have the classic yellow-green coloration and vitreous luster of Peridot, and are transparent and quite clear. I think that severe warping of the surrounding host rock is the cause of the heavy breakage among the crystals.

Dims: 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.3" (1.3 x 1.3 x 0.8 cm)

Wt: 1.6 g

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

A single, incomplete Peridot crystal makes up this small thumbnail specimen. It is in moderate to good condition, showing only a small amount of damage besides the breakage plane at its base, and has good though slightly rounded orthorhombic prismatic form. It was intergrown with at least two other crystals- one of these was separated, and the other is broken and mostly incomplete. The crystal has the classic yellow-green coloration of Peridot and a pearly luster, and is transparent and quite clear, though it does contain at least one large internal fracture. There is no host rock of any sort present.

Dims: 1.8 x 1.6 x 1.4" (4.6 x 4.1 x 3.6 cm)

Wt: 3.06 oz. (86.8 g)

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

Though all of it is nearly shapeless, there is a large quantity of Peridot embedded in the host rock of this specimen. Most of it is exposed through breakage, but several exposed portions have natural surfaces. These surfaces are generally very rounded- there is no evidence of definable crsytal form. All have the yellow-green coloration that is a characteristic of Peridot and their luster ranges from waxy to pearly. What material is exposed is generally translucent and heavily internally fractured, though substantial amounts are moderately transparent and clear. The host material is standard for this locality, though I cannot identify it- it has a generally pale brown color and a very fibrous habit and consistency. One can expose much more Peridot by carefully scraping this material away with a dental probe or small metal scraper.

Dims: 0.8 x 0.6 x 0.4" (2.0 x 1.5 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 4.8 g

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

A parallel association of several heavily intergrown Peridot crystals makes up this thumbnail specimen. It appears to be in good condition, and though some damage is obvious, close examination will show that most of it is not fresh and partly healed. It shows very good orthorhombic prismatic form even with the intense intergrowth, with generally well-defined edges and clean faces that possess a rather dull pearly-to-waxy luster. It has the classic olive-green coloration of Peridot and is transparent and dimly to moderately clear. There is only a tiny amount of host rock present.

Dims: 1.8 x 1.5 x 1.3" (4.6 x 3.8 x 3.3 cm)

Wt: 1.57 oz. (44.6 g)

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

Many small Peridot crystals rest in the pale brown, fibrous host rock of this specimen. A few of these crystals are obviously broken, but several, including the largest one, are intact. This largest crystal has visible dimensions of 0.4 x 0.2 x 0.2" (1.0 x 0.6 x 0.5 cm), and the other crystals do not tend to exceed 0.1" (3 mm) along any axis. None of these have a good orthorhombic prismatic form, though some have definite crystal faces. Their color is the classic yellow-green and their luster is bright and vitreous. All appear to be transparent and clear.

Dims: 1.0 x 0.6 x 0.4" (2.5 x 1.5 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 5.6 g

Kohistan area, Pakistan

This small thumbnail specimen consists of 3 partly intergrown Peridot crystals. These crystals are in excellent condition, showing no fresh damage. The largest has dimensions of 0.9 x 0.4 x 0.3" (2.3 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm), and like the other two has a slightly rounded but reasonably good orthorhombic prismatic form, with somewhat worn edges and clean faces. All have the standard yellowish-green coloration and a moderate to bright pearly luster on their faces. They are transaprent but only dimly to moderately clear due to the presence of many veil-like inclusions. There is a small amount of a dull, white material present at their bases.

Dims: 0.8 x 0.5 x 0.4" (2.0 x 1.2 x 0.9 cm)

Wt: 5 g

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

A single Peridot crystal comprises this specimen. It is in excellent condition, showing no appreciable damage, and has reasonably good orthorhombic prismatic form- it looks as if 2 Peridot crystals may have grown into each other. Its yellow-green color is rather pale at its termination, but deepens somewhat towards its base, and it is transparent and moderately clear, containing some cloudy and veil-like inclusions and some other flaws. Its luster is greasy, and it is loose- there is no host material of any sort present.

Dims: 0.8 x 0.8 x 0.5" (2.1 x 2.1 x 1.4 cm)

Wt: 13 g w/ base

Sumpuat Nala, near Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

A few tightly-arranged Peridot crystals make up this thumbnail specimen. All are intact and in very good condition, reaching dimensions of 0.8 x 0.5 x 0.4" (2.0 x 1.3 x 1.0). Their orthorhombic prismatic form is somewhat rounded and warped due to their tight arrangement, but is still defined. All have the standard olive-green color and a dull greasy luster and are at least dimly transparent. Some crystals are partly coated with a dull, whitish crust that can easily be removed with a dental probe. The piece is affixed to a flat acrylic base with a hot melt glue.

Dims: 0.9 x 0.8 x 0.6" (2.2 x 2.0 x 1.6 cm)

Wt: 5 g

Supat, near Dassu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

A single Peridot crystal rests in the sparse white matrix rock of this thumbnail specimen. It has visible dimensions of 0.6 x 0.4 x 0.4" (1.4 x 1.0 x 0.9 cm), and though it shows no fresh damage, it was certainly damaged during its formation and then partly healed- this may explain its considerably warped form. Its olive-green color is characteristic of the specie, its luster is dull and greasy, and it is transparent and moderately clear, containing a few large cracks, one of which seems to extend completely through the crystal. The white matrix material is soft and easy to chip away, if one were to want to free the crystal from it.

Dims: 2.3 x 1.4 x 1.1" (5.7 x 3.6 x 2.8 cm)

Wt: 2.2 oz. (62 g)

Sapat, near Dassu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

This hand specimen consists of several Peridot crystals that are embedded in a soft, white matrix which in turn rests on a gray-brown igneous base. Most of the crystals do not exceed 0.1" (3 mm) in diameter, but one measures 0.5" (1.3 cm) in length and another measures 0.3" (8 mm) in length. These larger crystals are in moderately good condition- the smaller one was broken during formation, and the larger one has fresh, light damage. Their orthorhombic prismatic form is good and all have the classic olive-green color and vitreous luster of their specie. They are also transparent and quite clear.

Dims: 2.0 x 1.6 x 1.0" (5.0 x 4.0 x 2.4 cm)

Wt: 1.6 oz. (45 g)

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

A few small Peridot crystals rest in the brown and white matrix of this hand specimen. These crystals do not tend to exceed 0.3" (8 mm) in length, and most of them are broken and incomplete. Where intact, their orthorhombic prismatic form is discernable but rather rounded. All have the classic olive-green color of their specie and a pearly luster, and are transparent and at least moderately clear. Some of the surrounding host rock appears to be made up of massive, rust-stained Peridot, while the white material is soft and has a fibrous appearance.

Dims: 1.3 x 1.0 x 0.9" (3.2 x 2.4 x 2.2 cm)

Wt: 9 g

Sapat, near Dassu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

A cluster of intersecting Peridot "blades" makes up this large thumbnail specimen. These blades are in very good condition, showing almost no fresh damage, and reach dimensions of 0.8 x 0.7 x 0.3" (2.0 x 1.7 x 0.7 cm). Their flattened orthorhombic form, though unusual, is quite good. All have the standard olive-green color and pearly luster, and are transparent but dimly clear, containing many internal fractures and cloudy inclusions. There are small amounts of gray and white host materials present.

Dims:0.9x0.5x0.4" (2.3x1.3x1.0 cm)

Wt: 0.2oz. (5g)

Suppat Nala, Kohistan, NWFP, Pakistan

This is a single large crystal of peridot, showing excellent termination faces, and a very high degree of translucence. The sides, base and tip of this specimen all show varying degrees of damage. Overall, though, this is a very good specimen of this olivene-series mineral. This specimen is near gem-quality material.

Dims: 0.5 x 0.2 x 0.2" (1.3 x 0.5 x 0.5 cm)

Wt: 0.1 oz. (2.0 g)

Suppat Nala, above Dasu, Kohistan, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan

A single, incomplete Peridot crystal makes up this small thumbnail specimen. It is in moderate to good condition, showing only a small amount of damage besides the breakage plane at its base, and has good though slightly rounded orthorhombic prismatic form. It was intergrown with at least two other crystals- one of these was separated, and the other is broken and mostly incomplete. The crystal has the classic yellow-green coloration of Peridot and a pearly luster, and is transparent and quite clear. There is no host rock of any sort present, although the crevices of the specimen contain a coating of a brown mineral.

Dims: 1.74x1.59x1.01" (4.43x4.04x2.58cm)

Wt: 1.90oz (53.9g)

Pakistan

This is a nice specimen of intergrown peridot crystals. While most of them are a bit pale and cloudy, several are quite transparent and have an excellent green color. Even these, however, have their clarity marred by a dull luster caused by fine pits on the surface of the crystals. The peridot crystals are highlighted by a white mineral filling the crevices between the crystals, and judging by its greasy feel, it must be talc.

Dims: 5.39x4.25x3.40" (13.68x10.80x8.64cm)

Wt: 47.06oz (1334g)

uncertain, likely Arizona, USA

This large specimen is not very pretty, but it contains a great deal of peridot. About 30% of the total surface is covered with a green crust, which a loupe shows to be a druze of green peridot crystals. Additionally, there is a patch containing a large crystal over 4cm in length. One side of the host rock contains a brown patch of uncertain composition. It looks like a brown opal in some places, and much like a brown oligoclase in others. At first I thought its bright colorful irridescence (under a loupe) was from moonstone, but some of the peridot displays the same colorful irridescence (but to a lessor degree), leading me to think that both are covered by a thin coat of some irridescent mineral such as chalcopyrite.

dims mm=37.30x33.88x28.48

wt g=54.5

Pakistan

This specimen is mostly peridot as an intergrown cluster of crystals, although it has a thin coating of talc over about half of its surface. The peridot is a pretty green color, and the crystals are transparent enough that the color looks deeper than it really is as revealed by light shining through some of the crystals.

dims mm=155.48x148.28x89.96

wt g=4875

San Carlos, Arizona, USA

This is a huge cabinet specimen of peridot. Peridot (olivine) crystallizes early from a cooling magma, and these chunks have been trapped in the resulting porous basalt (is that a contradiction?). Many other minerals can be seen in some of the gas pockets with the aid of a high power loupe. The peridot is the typical green and the larger crystals are transparent. None show any indication of crystal form - I believe that all of the thousands of crystals in the half-dozen pockets of peridot have been damaged. A pocket on top is much darker in color (probably weathered), and the peridot there is is very dark, almost black, and displays an irridescent sheen in purples, greens, and blues. There is a lot of peridot on this specimen.