Olivine
A green mineral that is very common in meteorites and makes the gem called peridot.
Olivine is a mineral named after its colour: it is often olive-green, though it can be yellow, brown or nearly black. It is made of magnesium, iron, silicon and oxygen. When olivine is clear and good quality, people cut it into a sparkling green gem called peridot.
Olivine is one of the most common minerals in meteorites. It fills many of the tiny round grains called chondrules in stony meteorites, and it forms the big glassy crystals in the beautiful stony-iron meteorites called pallasites. Olivine also tells scientists a lot: the amount of iron in it helps them sort meteorites into groups. Famous olivine-filled meteorites include Esquel from Argentina and Fukang from China, both pallasites, where slices glow like stained glass when light shines through them.
In meteorites, olivine shows up as green or yellowish grains or crystals. In a pallasite you can see them easily, surrounded by shiny metal. In stony meteorites the grains are usually tiny and need a magnifying glass. Olivine is also common in volcanic rocks on Earth, so finding green crystals does not prove a rock came from space. Always ask an expert.
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Level: Beginner Ages 7 and up