Those born during the Dogs Days of August enjoy the Peridot as their birthstone. Your zodiac sign may be Leo  (July 23-August 22) or Virgo (August 23-September 22).

This gemstone has a green vibrant glow and possibly derives its name from the Arabic word for gem, faridat. It may also derive its name from the Greek word for "giving plenty," peridona.

Peridot is actually gem quality olivine, a mineral commonly found in mafic igneous rocks such as basalt, gabbro, and peridotite. It's often found along divergent plate boundaries and hot spots such as Hawaii. In Hawaiian folklore the peridot symbolizes the tears of the volcano goddess Pele. While olivine is a common mineral, it's less common to have the gem quality version of the mineral, peridot.

Most of the gem quality peridot in the world comes from the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona, but it can be found in Pakistan, Myanmar, and China.  The San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation is estimated to produce up to 95 percent of the world's peridot supply.