Aquamarine Vs. Peridot

Aquamarine is a very popular gemstone composed of beryllium aluminum silicate.^[1] Peridot is also a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is magnesium iron silicate.^[2]

Quick Facts on Differences of Aquamarine and Peridot

For a quick recap of the differences aquamarine and peridot:

• While both aquamarine and peridot can be transparent, aquamarine can be opaque or translucent.
• In terms of crystallography, aquamarine is hexagonal while peridot is orthorhombic.
• For chemical formulas, aquamarine is Be3Al2Si6O18 while peridot can be (Mg or Fe)2SiO4.
• While both aquamarine and peridot can be commonly green, aquamarine is often blue and peridot is often brown or yellow.
• Aquamarine's hardness is higher than peridot - aquamarine ranges from 7.5 to 8 and peridot ranges from 6.5 to 7 on the Moh's scale.
• Aquamarine's specific gravity is lower than peridot - aquamarine ranges from 2.66 to 2.8 and peridot ranges from 3.2 to 4.39.

Quick Facts on Similarities of Aquamarine and Peridot

The similarities of aquamarine and peridot include:

• In terms of luster, aquamarine and peridot both are vitreous.
• Aquamarine and peridot both streak colorless.
• Aquamarine's rarity is similar to peridot.

Summary of Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a blue-green variety of the mineral beryl. It is a popular gemstone because of its beautiful color and clarity. The name aquamarine comes from the Latin words aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning sea. This is because the color of aquamarine is similar to the color of the ocean.

Summary of Peridot

Peridot is a beautiful green mineral that has been used for centuries in jewelry making. It is a type of olivine mineral and is found in volcanic rocks and meteorites. Peridot is known for its vibrant green color, which is caused by the presence of iron. The mineral can range in color from yellow-green to olive green, and can be transparent or translucent.

Table Comparison of Aquamarine vs Peridot