Olivine Value Guide

Olivine is a significant collectible mineral known for its glassy green luster and its presence in both Earth's mantle and extraterrestrial meteorites. Historically prized in ancient Egypt as the gemstone peridot, it remains a cornerstone for collectors of mafic and ultramafic igneous rock specimens.

What Is Olivine Worth?

The typical price range for Olivine is $5 - $25 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The intensity and saturation of the green hue, with brighter colors commanding higher prices.
• The size and transparency of the individual crystals within the host rock.
• The presence of olivine within rare pallasite meteorites, which significantly increases collector value.
• The overall structural integrity and lack of weathering or alteration to serpentine.

How to Identify Olivine?

• Look for a distinct olive-green to yellowish-green color with a vitreous, glassy luster.
• Check for a conchoidal fracture pattern, as the mineral lacks true cleavage.
• Verify the hardness, which should fall between 6.5 and 7 on the Mohs scale.
• Examine the specimen for a granular texture, often appearing as small, rounded grains within a darker rock matrix.

History of Olivine

Olivine is one of the most common minerals on Earth and is also found in meteorites. It has been used since ancient times as a gemstone, known as peridot, and was particularly popular in ancient Egypt.