HISTORY OF THE AUGUST BIRTHSTONE
Peridot is the rare gem-quality variety of the mineral olivine, which forms deep inside the Earth’s
mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanoes in Hawaii. In Hawaii, peridot once symbolized the
tears of Pele, the volcano goddess of fire who controls the flow of lava. Rarely, peridot is found
inside meteorites. Most of the world’s supply comes from San Carlos Reservation in Arizona, China,
Africa, and Pakistan. Ancient papyri record the mining of these stones as early as 1500 BC in the
Egyptian Red Sea, being used for carved talismans.
