Page 8 - September 2022 Magazine - Bumper Edition

August Birthstone Peridot
A Au ug gu us st t S St ta ar r S Si ig gn n G Ge em ms st to on ne e, , Modern & Traditional
The gloriously green (well, greenish) Peridot is the predominant birthstone for the month of August.
If you’re an avid reader of ancient texts (not the smartphone type), their green glow explains why they are often referred to as ‘Olivine’.
Don’t be disappointed it’s not a Ruby or an Emerald or a Diamond. Whilst the birthstone of peeps born in the month of August may not feature in the Crown Jewels owned by a well-known Elizabeth, it’s nonetheless fascinating.
Oh, and by the way, whether or not you are French, you don’t pronounce the ‘t’.
There are only two gemstones that are not created over millions of years of minerals compacting deep below the Earth’s surface.
Instead, they are formed by molten rock (lava)
and are spued out onto the Earth's surface by the forces of nature, such as earthquakes or volcanic movement. Then, over more Moons than can be counted, they cool and return to the Earth.
One of them is Peridot, the other is diamonds.
Peridot was originally called Topazos - as it was first discovered on a barren and inhospitable island in the Red Sea, then known as Topazios, now the island is known as Zabargad or St Johns Island.
The Pharaohs of Egypt mined the Olivine gems and somehow managed to keep the island a secret for over three thousand years... Today, Peridot is the National gemstone of Egypt.
However, way more fascinating is the fact that our ancestors thought of the Peridot (Olivine) as a gift from the Sun, and whilst they would not have been aware of it, they may have been not that far wrong in thinking so.
Whilst they are very rare, there have been roughly 60 meteorites that have been found embedded on Earth, that have been dated at 4.5 billion years old... containing crystals of Peridot.
8 | The Flickering Cauldron® Magazine - August Birthstones