Peridot is gem-quality forsteritic olivine. Olivine in general is a very abundant
mineral, but gem quality peridot is rather rare.

Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color: basically an olive green.
The intensity and tint of the green however depends on how much iron is contained in the
crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow-green
through olive green to brownish green.
The most valuable is considered a dark-olive green color.

Peridot crystals have been collected from some Pallasite meteorites.
A famous Pallasite was offered for auction in April 2008 with a requested price of
close to $ 3 million at Bonhams, but remained unsold.
Peridot is the only gemstone found in meteorites.