crystals
of different colours. The peridote, properly so called, is a
yellow-green; other varieties have clear olive-green tints, and are
called by the lapidaries olivines.
The crystals of peridote are sometimes called chrysolite, but this must not be confounded with oriental chrysolite or cymophane.
An
interesting fact attaches itself to the peridote. It is, among all the
precious stones, the only one which has to this time had the honour of
being found in those stones dropped from space, which we designate
under the name of aerolites.
The
peridotes of commerce are brought from the Levant by way of
Constantinople, but the exact locality in which they are found is not
known.
JADE.
This
word is a generic term used to designate a certain number of
substances, which, while resembling each other in many
characteristics, differ materially in their composition.
These
common characteristics are great hardness: wonderful tenacity, a wavy
or scaly fracture, a certain oily lustre, and tints of white,
greenish-white, milk-white, and rose-white.
The best known variety is brought from China; it is a silicate of lime and magnesia, with traces of
