Forsterite

specimen number:
1052652

location:
Los Hervideros, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

description:
Sections of crystalline lustrous and translucent green forsterite, this is the variety often called peridot, embedded within basalt. This is classic material for the species and locality.

Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands of Spain, is a world-famous locality for the mineral forsterite, specifically the gem-quality variety known as peridot. Geologically, these crystals occur as mantle-derived xenoliths (peridotite nodules) that were brought to the surface by basaltic volcanic eruptions, most notably during the massive Timanfaya eruption period between 1730 and 1736. The forsterite crystals are typically embedded within vesicular basalt and are often associated with other high-pressure minerals like clinopyroxene and spinel. Historically, there has been no large-scale industrial mining or quarrying for forsterite on the island; instead, the crystals have been collected through small-scale surface prospecting and traditional artisanal methods for use in the local jewelry trade. While much of the island is now protected as a Biosphere Reserve and National Park, hindering new commercial extraction, historical sites near the village of El Golfo remain significant for geological study through 2026.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.