Specimens Sinhalite is rare mineral and known only from the gem gravels in Sri Lanka. It was thought to be a brownish variety of the normally green peridot, the gem variety of olivine . It was first discovered to be a new species in 1952 when an unusually dark brown specimen came under scientific scrutiny. Since then it has been an unusual gemstone, being a member of the borates . Sinhalite gets its name from sinhala, the Sanskrit word for the island of Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka.
Color is greenish brown to brown, sometimes greenish-yellow.
Luster is vitreous. Crystals are transparent to translucent. Crystal System is orthorhombic. Crystal Habits are quite limited to alluvial grains found in gem gravels. Cleavage is distinct in two directions.