Olivine stone – properties, virtues & benefits
Oivine stone, also known as peridot, is a bright, vivid green gemstone. It’s prized for its natural beauty and healing properties, including stress and physical healing. Discover the characteristics and uses of this gemstone in our article dedicated to olivine.
OLIVINE CHARACTERISTICS
- Chakra: Heart.
- Properties: Purification, Healing, Stress reduction, Protection against negative energies.
- Astrology: Venus.
- Zodiac: Leo, Virgo, ScorPio, Sagittarius.
- Elements: Earth and Fire.
- Colors: Green, Yellow-green.
- Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale.
- Chemical Formula: (Mg, Fe)2SiO4.
- Associated god: None.
PIERRE OLIVINE – HIS STORY
Olivine stone is a silicate mineral that has been called “peridot” and whose origin dates back to around 1500 B.C. It was very popular in ancient Egypt and is the main component of the bedrock known as “peridotite”. Named after the German mineralogist and geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner for its olive-green color, the stone is often segregated in the rock. Historians long thought that the famous emerald jewels worn by Cleopatra were adorned with peridots, but it turned out that they were actually made of topaz. The Egyptians mistakenly called olivine “topaz” and nicknamed it the “stone of the sun” because of its intriguing brilliance associated with light. This light greatly facilitated night-time exploration by groups of miners to identify its location and extract it from deposits once daylight came. It was popular in Greek jewelry and was mainly owned by Ottoman sultans, while being jealously guarded by Pharaonic soldiers who executed anyone who tried to steal it. Unlike other crystals formed deep in the Earth’s crust, such as diamond, olivine is created deep in the Earth’s mantle by tectonic plate movements and volcanic activity. It is then brought to the surface and reclaimed by man. What’s more, it is the first mineral to crystallize when a magma cools.
Olivine stone, also known as “peridot”, was first discovered on the island of Topazos, now known as Zabargad or St. John’s, located in the middle of the Red Sea, and its story is told in Pliny the Elder’s compendium of natural history dating from 23 to 79 AD. According to Pliny the Elder, it appeared hypothetically in the fourth century BC. The Zabargad region, which had mysteriously disappeared from explorers’ maps for decades, was the first to search deeply for olivine stone for over 3,500 years. The stone is present in many cultures and has a crystalline structure. It has a special significance for Hawaiians, who consider it to be the tears of the goddess Pele. In the Bible, it is one of the twelve stones of Aaron’s breastplate and is associated with the gates of Jerusalem and the lineages of Israel.
It was also used to decorate churches at the end of the Crusades, such as the large olivine that sits on the shrine of the Magi in Cologne Cathedral. Mining of olivine stone on the island of Zabargad came to an end with the Second World War, giving way to five dominant deposits worldwide: Burma, Pakistan, the USA with Arizona and New Mexico, China and Vietnam. If the stone exceeds 8 carats, it is held by collectors or museums. American museums in New York and Chicago exhibit the finest assortments of olivine stones. Washington’s Smithsonian Institute also owns a precious specimen worth 310 carats.
OLIVINE STONE – ITS ORIGIN AND COMPOSITION
The origin of the olivine stone’s name remains partly unknown, but it is assumed to derive from the Arabic word “faridat”, meaning precious. This stone has a structure of (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 and is described by Pliny the Elder as a verdant, crystalline material of great beauty. It is composed of a lattice of silica and oxygen atoms, on which magnesium and, in small quantities, iron atoms are found. The stone is an exceptional amalgam of magnesium, iron and silica, with a composition that gives it its brilliant green color thanks to a high presence of nickel or chromium. Its color is very close to that of emerald, which explains why it is often called “evening emerald” or “poor man’s emerald”. It is also known as Chrysolite. Palladot is a rarer category of this mineral group, which is a kind of meteorite of variable size, belonging to the rare extraterrestrial stones, falling from the sky and forming the famous shooting stars.
Heavenly olivines, found at the center of these meteorites, are a sparkling layer of a chemical mixture of iron and nickel with inclusions of olivine crystals. The beauty and rarity of this stone means it can be used to create a wide range of jewels, offering a magnificent palette of colors from light olive to the most intense version. Interestingly, if you choose an eco-friendly roof with an olivine topcoat, you can reduce CO2 emissions. This finish can also neutralize CO2 in the atmosphere during rainy weather. In 2013, a study of the ductility of olivine at a temperature of 850 to 1100°C showed low stone strength. However, it is difficult to carry out these experiments with such low temperatures, characterizing the most superficial part of the mantle in contact with the Earth’s crust. In May 2018, following a volcanic eruption in Hawaii, olivine crystals were ejected from magmatic rock or released by lava, and came to rest in gardens or on beaches.
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GREEN OLIVINE STONE – VERTIES AND PROPERTIES
OLIVINE ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL LEVEL
Olivine stone is known for its positive psychological effect that helps increase self-confidence and reduce stress, erasing guilt from the past. Because of the energy it contains, it is considered of great importance in sPirituality, with mystical powers attributed. It is believed to help forget melancholy and other problems of the mind, such as jealousy, while bringing good fortune and a harmonious life. It is also reputed to protect against nightmares, ward off evil sPirits and reduce excess body heat.
Many popular beliefs are associated with this stone, but for it to be effective, it must be worn around the wrist or neck to benefit from its virtues. It brings lucidity and purity to its wearer, acting on extrasensory points, notably the third eye. It acts on excessive fears and low sPirits, helPing the wearer to face them and stay fit. It helps get rid of feelings of resentment, nervousness and even jealousy. It dispels the darkness of life-damaging negative emotions and orients towards a captivating light.
PHYSICAL OLIVINE
Olivine stone has beneficial effects on the skin by reaching the heart chakra and solar plexus, where vital energy is located, to eliminate toxins. It helps regulate the liver, intestines or gall bladder when placed on a painful stomach, and improves blood circulation when held against the body. It can also help combat certain skin disorders when immersed in water and removed after a few hours. It can also help you lose weight and work on yourself if you’re overweight. It can reduce the pain associated with contractions in pregnant women, and has positive effects on physical health by providing great energy, improving blood circulation, offering a better quality of sleep and soothing tissue irritation and the pain of insect bites.
It also aids digestion and improves transit, contributing to a general state of well-being. It is affordable in terms of price and has many soothing virtues. To purify it, simply immerse it in salted distilled water, and for it to retain its effectiveness, it should be exposed to the sun on a quartz cluster. With its wide range of colors, from yellow-green to darker, this stone is not only beautiful, but also helps to ease ailments of the heart and mind, recovering self-esteem and balancing the mental structure. In short, once you’ve used this stone, you’ll quickly feel the benefits and continue to use it regularly. Finally, it’s worth noting that a form of this stone is used in anthroposophically oriented medicine.
OLIVINE STONE – CLEAN AND RECHARGE
Olivine stone is a natural gem that can accumulate negative energies over time, which can alter its healing properties. It’s therefore important to cleanse and recharge it regularly so that it retains its benefits. Here’s how to do it:
Cleaning:
- The simplest method is to immerse the olivine stone in distilled water for several hours. You can add sea salt or herbs such as sage to enhance its purifying power.
- You can also cleanse olivine stone by placing it on a bed of quartz or amethyst crystals for several hours.
- Another effective method is to leave the stone in the sun for a few hours or place it on a bed of salt overnight. However, it’s important not to leave olivine stone in the sun for too long, as this can alter its color.
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- To recharge the olivine stone, you can place it on a cluster of quartz or amethyst crystals for several hours.
- You can also recharge it by leaving it in the sun for a few hours or placing it on a bed of salt overnight.
- Another method is to use natural energy, such as wind or rain. To do this, simply place the olivine stone outside for a few hours or overnight.
It is recommended to clean and recharge the olivine stone every month or after each intensive use. This will maintain its healing properties and strengthen its powers.
WHERE DOES THE NAME OLIVINE COME FROM?
The name “olivine” comes from the green color of the stone, which resembles that of the olive. The name was proposed by German mineralogist Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1790. However, olivine is also known by other names, such as “peridot”, “chrysolite” or “green topaz”. The name “peridot” is derived from the Arabic word “faridat”, meaning “gem”. The olivine stone is mainly mined in places such as Pakistan, Burma, Brazil and Arizona in the USA.
WHICH CHAKRA DOES OLIVINE ACT ON?
Olivine acts primarily on the heart chakra, which is associated with love, compassion, harmony and emotional balance. This stone helps to open and balance this chakra, increasing self-confidence, improving relationships and stimulating positive emotions. It can also help soothe grief and emotional pain, as well as promote forgiveness and acceptance of self and others.
WHICH ASTROLOGICAL SIGN IS ASSOCIATED WITH OLIVINE?
Olivine is associated with several astrological signs, including Leo, Virgo, ScorPio and Sagittarius. This stone is said to reinforce the positive characteristics of these signs, such as creativity, vitality, determination and intellectual curiosity, while helPing to balance emotions and reduce stress. It is also said to enhance intuition and mental clarity, which can help make good decisions in life.
OOLIVINE STONE SUMMARY
Olivine stone, also known as peridot, is a light to medium green gemstone. It is composed of magnesium and iron silicate, and is found in volcanic rocks. The olivine stone has been used since ancient times for jewelry-making, and is still popular today because of its beauty and durability. It is also associated with healing and protective properties in some cultures.