Peridot
green · Olivine family
| Also known as | Olivine (Olivine family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Green |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 |
| Lustre | Vitreous to oily |
| Streak | Colorless |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Transparency | Translucent to transparent |
| Cleavage | Poor on {010} and {110}, {010} cleavage improves with increasing iron content |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Specific gravity | 3.2–4.3 |
What is Peridot?
Peridot, sometimes called chrysolite, is a yellow-green transparent variety of olivine. Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color.
How to identify Peridot
- Lustre: Vitreous to oily.
- Hardness: Mohs 6.5–7 — about as hard as a steel knife.
- Streak: Colorless.
- Habit: Orthorhombic crystal system.
Peridot value
Peridot is a fine gemstone priced per carat by quality — colour, clarity, cut, carat and origin — not by weight in grams. Typical market ranges:
| Quality | Price per carat |
|---|---|
| Commercial | $20–$80 / ct |
| Good | $50–$250 / ct |
| Fine | $80–$500 / ct |
| Top | $250–$900 / ct |
Ranges cross-validated across two independent research passes against gemstone price guides, 2026-06 — sources: palagems.com, rockchasing.com. Colour saturation, clarity, cut and origin move the price enormously, and treatments or lab-grown stones sell for a fraction — so this is a guide, not an appraisal. Have anything valuable checked by a certified gemmologist. See the full crystal & gemstone value guide.
Peridot in different forms
Stones often confused with Peridot
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Peridot?
Peridot is Mohs 6.5–7 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Peridot?
Peridot is typically green (Yellow, to yellow-green, olive-green, to brownish, sometimes a lime green, to emerald hue).