Peridotite & Dunite

Peridotite is a coarse textured, MAFIC, intrusive igneous rock. It is composed of a mix of pyroxene and olivine (yellow zone in chart below). Since both of these minerals are yellow or green it is not surprising that peridotite is usually green to dark green in color. Some larger crystals are used in jewelry.

Dunite, another coarse textured, intrusive igneous rock is composed of 100% olivine (see brown zone in chart below).

Peridotite	Peridotite crystal	Peridotite cut crystal	Dunite

Back to Page 6