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October 27, 2014
Monday Geology Picture: Peridot at the Smithsonian
For this week’s “Monday Geology Picture” I thought that I would share another image from my recent (June 2014) trip to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. Peridot is my favorite gemstone, and I saw some truly stunning peridot gemstones on display at the Smithsonian. Aren’t they lovely? Here’s a closer view of some of the pretty peridot gems: I’m still in the field, but when I’m back home in a few …
February 17, 2011
Geology Word of the Week: P is for Peridot
Peridot gemstone. Image taken from here. def. Peridot: Peridot is a gem-quality olivine [(Mg,Fe)2SiO4], a beautiful green mineral found in mafic to ultramafic rocks. My engagement stone is a peridot– my fiance was pleasantly surprised that my favorite gemstone is among the cheaper gemstones. Though far less durable than diamond, peridot has a beautiful green color which I love. Most gemstones have alter ego mineral names. Below are some examples: …
January 17, 2011
A Peridot is Forever
As a geologist and a skeptic, I’d like to debunk a popular myth: a diamond is not forever. This clever phrase was coined in 1948 as a marketing slogan for DeBeers, but I cry that it’s false advertising. Diamonds, formed at high-pressures deep within the Earth, are metastable in the low pressures at Earth’s surface. Over many million of years, the carbon atoms in the gemstones will rearrange, converting the …
