Say hello to August and the birthstone Peridot.
Imagine a beach that sparkles with the crystals of Peridot. On the Island of Oahu, it is so very treasured, that the people have illuminated many beaches by adding tiny grains of light green crystals.
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A Little History
Miners have found Peridot in volcanic rocks and even meteors that landed on Earth. It is the only gemstone that comes in one color, and is not heat-treated to alter the color, as many gemstones are. Because it is sensitive to fast changes in temperature, it is not advisable to clean Peridot with an ultrasonic method.
Since 1500 B.C. valuable Peridot was mined near Egypt, on St. Johns Island, in the Red Sea. However, it was nearly depleted up to the time WW1 began. Later, it became more abundant in 1994 after a mine was discovered in Pakistan, west of the Himalayan Mountains. Today, in Arizona, 90% of the worlds Peridot comes from the San Carlos Apache Reservation, a very large source, which is mined only by the Apache Indians.
Peridot can be found in museums all over the world, with the largest on display at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., containing 310 carats. The second largest documented display is the Shrine of the Magi with 200 carats. It is located in the Dom, a Gothic Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. In 1988, I viewed the breathtaking shrine which is a reliquary for the Wise Men or Three Kings who visited the birth of Jesus.
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Traveling in Europe left a big impression on me, it was amazing and unforgettable. For me, it is easier to understand and remember history when art plays an important role in our world.
Interested in learning more about birthstones and fun factoids? Great! Next month it’s all about the amazing blue Sapphire.
~~~Tresa
Research from www.vivalachi.com
meyerclarkstudio.com 