Forsterite

specimen number:
2072372

location:
Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

description:
Lustrous translucent green crystalline forsterite, the variety known as peridot, on a basalt matrix. Classic material for this area.

The Canary Islands, a volcanic archipelago off the coast of Africa, are geologically composed of shield volcanoes and cinder cones built from mantle-derived alkaline basalts. The mineral forsterite, specifically the gem-quality variety known as peridot, occurs as primary phenocrysts or within ultramafic xenoliths (peridotite nodules) transported to the surface during explosive eruptions. These green, magnesium-rich silicate crystals are particularly abundant in the basaltic sands and lava flows of Lanzarote, especially near the El Golfo region. Historically, while there has been no large-scale industrial mining or quarrying dedicated solely to peridot, the islands have a long history of volcanic stone extraction for construction and infrastructure dating back to the 15th century. Small-scale, artisanal collection of peridot specimens from volcanic tephra and beaches has occurred sporadically throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, primarily for the local jewelry and tourist trades. As of 2026, the sites remain significant to the mineralogical community as a classic locality for studying mantle-derived crystals in an oceanic island setting.

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