Where Does Olivine Come from?

Olivine is often found in dark-colored igneous rocks found in the surface of the Earth. These rocks are often located in tectonic plates and divergent plate boundaries. Olivine has a high crystallization temperature which makes it one of the first mineralize to crystallize from the Earth's heat.

How is olivine formed?

Mg-rich olivine crystallizes from magma that is rich in magnesium and low in silica. That magma crystallizes to mafic rocks such as gabbro and basalt. ... Olivine and high pressure structural variants constitute over 50% of the Earth's upper mantle, and olivine is one of the Earth's most common minerals by volume.

Where is olivine found in the US?

Olivine in the U.S.

While olivine is still mined to this day on Zabargad Island, it can also be found in places across the US. Peridot Mesa, which is on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona, is one area where olivine is found. The stone is mined by the Native Americans there.