What is another name for chrysolite?
Peridot is a type of olivine (a subclass of island silicates), a transparent gemstone of beautiful green shades with a bright luster. This is a neutral jewelry stone that is ideal for both women and men, for which it is valued by jewelers and lovers of precious stones. But chrysolite has low hardness, which reduces its cost and classifies it as a second-order precious stone. Most This gem looks great at dusk, especially by candlelight. It was for this property that in ancient times it received its name. “evening emerald”, and was also very popular when decorating various church paraphernalia. Peridot has long been actively used in the manufacture of jewelry; for example, it was very popular in the Baroque era, during the period of Greek ancient culture, and at the beginning of the twentieth century. The most beautiful jewelry with chrysolite was brought to Europe by the crusaders. Chrysolite has another name, of French origin, the period. But its meaning is not known exactly; there is only a version that it is associated with a large number of faces of the peridot crystal. The name chrysolite comes from the Greek words chrysos and lithos, which translated means golden stone. In ancient times, this name had a broader meaning, then it was used to refer to all golden-colored stones, but now it refers exclusively to peridot. However, even now the name chrysolite has a controversial interpretation. Thus, according to one version, chrysolite is called olivine. In English and German specialized literature, olivine is usually called peridot. And according to another version, chrysolites of golden shades, as well as olive and yellowish-green, are considered a transparent variety of olivine, but peridot is just a variety of chrysolite. The color of peridot is green with a variety of shades – brown, pistachio, golden, grassy, yellow or olive. This color is due to the admixture of iron. Peridots of pale colors are more common, and intense and bright colors are less common. Chrysolites of dark shades are calcined, thereby brightening them. This mineral has a bright shine, which is explained by its high birefringence. Large crystals of peridot are rare, that’s why they are more valuable. Many peridot crystals cannot be cut; they are small and often have defects – cracks, cloudiness, inclusions of other minerals. Interesting specimens of chrysolite are kept in Russia. For example, chrysolites found in a meteorite that fell in Eastern Siberia in 1749, or a transparent chrysolite, unique in its color properties, cut into an oval shape weighing 102,6 carats. Use in jewelry When processing chrysolite, it is important to remember that under heavy loads it cracks, so it is usually cut on a special metal substrate. The best cut for peridot is a stepped tabular cut; diamond cut is also used. Peridot looks most advantageous when set in gold jewelry. This gemstone is practically not used for making rings because this mineral is easily scratched. More often it is used for earrings, brooches and pendants. The rarest and most valuable are the green cat’s eye and star peridot.
Place of Birth
The origin of chrysolites is closely related to igneous rocks such as kimberlites and basalts. For more than 3500 years, the most famous and richest deposit of peridot has been the volcanic island of Zeberget in the Red Sea. It was on this island that the largest peridot crystal was found – weighing 310 carats. Also, specimens of peridot that are good for jewelry are found in Upper Burma, Australia, Brazil, in the post-Soviet countries, South Africa, the USA, Zaire, and Norway.
Chrysolites found underground (in the so-called primary deposits), in contrast to specimens found in surface placers, have a uniform, intense color, but it can be completely different even in the same deposit. Imitations and fakes Chrysolite is similar to beryl, chrysoberyl, demantoid, diopside, moldavite, prehnite, singalite, emerald, vesuvian. Peridot can be distinguished by its characteristic feature – high birefringence. This property of peridot can be seen with the naked eye if the cut stone is thick.
Overview
Color: golden green, olive green, brownish green
Hardness: 6,5-7
Density: 3,27-3,37
Cleavage: imperfect
Fracture: finely conchoidal, fragile
Syngony: rhombic
Crystals: short-prismatic flattened prisms with vertical hatching
Chemical formula: (Mg, Fe)2[SiO4], a type of olivine, magnesium iron silicate
Transparency degree: transparent
Light refraction: 1,654 – 1,690
Birefringence: ±0,036
Dispersion: 0,020
Pleochroism: very weak – from colorless or pale green to bright green and olive green
Absorption spectrum lines: (653), (553), 529, 497, 495, 493, 473, 453
Luminescence: none There have been legends about its beauty since the ancient times of Ancient Greece, and the Chinese consider it the Dragon Stone, their most revered animal. This is peridot, a green variety of garnet. The stone becomes especially interesting when its color has a golden tint. Thanks to the contrast, jewelry with peridot looks advantageous in combination with precious metals, especially gold. 
Small chrysolites are often found in nature, so jewelry with such stones is considered affordable. Usually in jewelry you can find a stone (also called olivine or peridot), of extraordinary beauty, originally from the USA, Burma, and Zaberged Island. In Siberia and the Urals, such stones are called demantoids; the first deposit of Russian chrysolite was discovered on the Bobrovka River in 1874. The famous storyteller P.P. Bazhov mentioned these stones in the tale of the Silver Hoof. Demantoid (peridot) is valued more than other varieties of garnets; as a rule, it is given a diamond cut. Jewelry with such chrysolites is very beautiful. There are demantoids that have a “cat’s eye” effect, created by almost invisible cracks that do not reach the surface of the stone. The amazing play of light on the edges is especially enhanced by artificial lighting. These stones are in the gold frame of the Trinity icon by the famous Andrei Rublev. A beautiful faceted chrysolite, iridescent olive green in color, is included in the regalia of the Russian Crown. 
In Rus’, church utensils and clothing were decorated with chrylites; merchants often brought rings and other jewelry with chrysolite from the East, which had a centuries-old history. It was believed that the stone helped preserve and increase wealth. Men’s rings with demantoid stones were a common adornment of the most famous merchants in Moscow. Today this tradition is gradually being revived. Even those who do not believe in the mysticism of stones, or women engaged in business, have among their jewelry elegant gold earrings with small chrysolites, the design of which can perfectly complement any business suit. Peridot is perfect for almost everyone; even the most strict lover of all things natural will look expensive in jewelry with an exceptionally rare large stone, the cost of which is not inferior to a good sapphire. Inexpensive, small stones are easily accessible to many. For those who like bright jewelry, gold earrings with different shades of peridots, the color range of which ranges from dark chartreuse to golden-green, are perfect. It is very fashionable today to combine peridot in rings with other precious stones, especially in soft, soft tones. These can be topazes, pink beryls or light amethysts. The green hue of the stone, echoing the matte glow of gold, becomes especially expressive. Such a ring with peridot, even surrounded by other stones, like a magnet, will attract the eye. 
If gold is not your thing, a silver ring with a demantoid, the so-called “evening emerald”, will look expensive and elegant on a fragile hand, because in the sunset light its yellowish tint disappears and the stone acquires a rich halftone and the deepest shade. In former times and now, chrysolite is valued not only for its beauty. Various magical properties have always been attributed to him. It is believed that a pendant with chrysolite can warn the owner against stupid actions, relieve envy or protect from a bad dream. Magicians claim that wearing a stone on the left hand protects against the evil eye. Astrologers insist that chrysolite exhibits its exceptional properties if jewelry with it becomes the owner on the 28th day of the lunar month. More successful owners of the stone are lawyers – Libra and Sagittarius. Leos receive protection from envy and intrigue, thanks to the action of the stone, their spiritual powers are strengthened and the gift of predictions may even appear. The ancient Armenians believed that with the help of peridot one could get rid of stuttering and cure nervous disorders; they assured that by looking closely at its transparent green for a long time, poor vision could be restored. Eastern healers introduced chrysolite powder into the base of medicinal ointments and used it in the treatment of skin diseases. There is an ancient Mongolian legend that says that chrysolite is the Black Dragon stone. One day, a treasure from this stone hidden by evil genies became the reason for the revenge of this monster. The dragon rushed along the ground, spewed streams of fire, emitted suffocating vapors and scattered huge stones in the mountains until the treasure, glistening with stones in the sun, appeared at the gates of the fortress, and a black tornado that flew in broad daylight carried it into the mountains. Since then, Mongols have considered jewelry with chrysolite to be a talisman for financiers, bankers, judges, lawyers and other people who strive to direct their intellect to perfection, living according to correct and moral laws. Peridot gets so used to its owner that after giving it to another person, it can break or get lost. Publication Date: 25.01.2012
