Olivine
Peridot
Yellowish green to olive green olivine
Green
Yellow
Optical characteristics
- Ref. index
- 1.654 – 1.69
- Birefringence
- 0.035 – 0.038
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Pleochroism
- Weak Variable depending on transparency, orientation, and variety.
- Fluorescence
- Variable to inert.
Source localities
Myanmar
Myanmar: Mogok Valley
Premium
Classic source for ruby, sapphire, spinel and other collector gems.
Pakistan
Pakistan: Shigar / Swat / Sapat Valley
Premium
★ Top Source
Important source for aquamarine, topaz, peridot, tourmaline and rare minerals.
Egypt
Egypt: Zabargad / Sinai
Legendary
★ Top Source
Historic source for peridot and turquoise.
China
China: Xinjiang / Yunnan / Hubei
Notable
Known for jade, turquoise, quartz and multiple gem deposits.
United States
USA: major gem fields
Notable
Diverse sources for turquoise, tourmaline, opal, sapphire, topaz, red beryl and rare minerals.
Inclusions & features
Crystals Crystal Inclusions
Under 10x loupe: solid, well-formed mineral crystals trapped inside the host gem. They may…
Fractures Feathers and Fractures
Under 10x loupe: irregular internal surfaces that catch light and appear bright, wing-like, or…
Fractures Fingerprint Inclusions
Under 10x loupe: curved or wavy lines of tiny dots forming patterns that look…
Fractures Lily Pad Inclusions
Under 10x loupe: circular or disc-shaped fractures radiating around a small dark central crystal.…
Clouds Pinpoint Clouds
Under 10x loupe: concentrations of extremely tiny bright dots that individually are too small…
Multiphase Two-Phase Inclusions
Under 10x loupe: a transparent irregular cavity containing both a liquid phase and a…
Instruments used
Dichroscope
Reveals pleochroism, instantly eliminates singly-refractive stones
10x Loupe
Your most-used instrument, start every examination here
Polariscope
Determines single vs. double refraction, quick and conclusive
Refractometer
Measures refractive index, the backbone of gem identification
UV Lamp, Long Wave and Short Wave
Fluorescence exposes treatments, synthetics, and origin