Peridot

Peridot comes from the Arabic word "faridat" meaning "gem". Its ancient source was the Isles of St. John in the Red Sea. This island was often shrouded in fog and thus was lost to the Arabian pirates for decades at a time lending a mystique to the gem. The "lime-green" August birthstone is now mined in the United States as well as Brazil, Burma, Sri Lanka and Australia.