Peridot also called Chrysolite or Olivin.

The Mohs’ hardness is 6,5-7.

The name derives from the Arabic word faridat (gem).

Historically important deposit was on the Red Sea volcanic island Zabargad (St.John), Egypt. It was mined for over 3500 years, but forgotten for many centuries, and rediscovered only around 1900.Beautiful materials is also found  in upper Burma (Myanmar).

Peridot was brought to Central Europe by the crusaders in the Middle Ages, and was often used for ecclesiastical purposes. It was the most popular stone during the Baroque period.

The largest cut Peridot weighs 319 ct and was found on the island Zabargad, it is in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C..  In Russia ,there are  some cut Peridots which came out of a meteorite that fell in 1749 in eastern Siberia.