Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! Rockhounds often have a special connection with their birthstones. The diamond search area at Crater of Diamonds State Park is a good place to find many birthstones, most notably diamonds—the birthstone for April—but also peridot and spinel, which are birthstones for August.

Birthstones are thought to have originated around 600 to 400 BC with the creation of the Breastplate of Aaron, or the Breastplate of Judgement. This priestly breastplate worn by Aaron, brother of Moses, had twelve gems embedded in it to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Later, the twelve gems became associated with the twelve zodiac signs and eventually the twelve months of the year.

Sardonyx and peridot are the traditional birthstones for August, but spinel has recently gained recognition as a modern August birthstone. Peridot and spinel are both found at the Crater of Diamonds but are not gemstone quality like some of our diamonds.

Peridot is a light yellow-green variety of olivine, a magnesium iron silicate. Like diamonds, peridot forms deep inside the earth’s mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanic eruption. Historically, this mineral is said to have been revered by kings and priests and used to ward off evil spirits and negative energy. Its bright green color and hardness of around seven on the Mohs scale make peridot ideal for jewelry, though it may be scratched if worn often.

The modern birthstone for August, spinel is a hard crystalline mineral composed of magnesium aluminum oxide. Spinel is incredibly versatile; it can contain a variety of elements and display many different colors. Often mistaken for ruby, the most widely known color of spinel is red. Spinel found at the Crater of Diamonds is pitch black, often small, and octahedral. In recent years, spinel has become more popular in jewelry for its wide array of colors, hardness of around eight, and affordability.

The next time you visit the Crater of Diamonds, keep an eye out for your or your loved ones’ birthstones. If you were born in January, February, April, August, or even November, your birthstone can be found at the park!