Iolite: the gem that discovered new worlds!

Iolite Gems showing various colors

In the early days of Sea exploration Traveling to far from shore was very dangerous and often lead to disaster.
That was until Vikings discovered a unique property of Iolite.  Iolite acts as a polarizing filter. Looking through an iolite lens, Vikings could determine the exact position of the sun, and navigate safely to the new world and back.

Dark purple blue Iolite

Iolite is a gem with extreme pleochroism, which means Iolite displays different colors depending on how the crystal is viewed.
A cube cut from iolite will look a violet blue almost like sapphire from one side, clear as water from the other, and a honey yellow from the top. This property led some people to call iolite "water sapphire" in the past, a name that is no longer used today.

Because of the gems extreme pleochroism it makes it very difficult to cut.  If iolite is not cut from exactly the right direction the gem will appear dull and lifeless.
However if cut properly it is a dazzling sight to behold!

Nice Violet Blue Iolite

The name Iolite comes from the Greek ios, which means violet.

Iolite is often confused with Tanzanite they can look nearly identical.  Tanzanite a blue-violet gemstone variety of the mineral zoisite, has strong pleochroism as well. However, tanzanite is usually more strongly colored, it is pleochroic with colors varying from dark blue, green-yellow and red-purple and it also has greater fire.  Tanzanite is rarer and much less affordable as Iolite. 

Healing Properties.
Iolite is a beautiful, deep purplish/blue gemstone that awakens the third eye, stimulates visions, and connects you with your inner wisdom. It is said it helps you live in the present as well.

Iolite cabochones showing various colors

When shopping for Iolite
It is very important to look at an Iolite gem from several directions before you purchase. Well cut Iolite should Present variety of different colors when Viewed
from different angles. If cut properly the stone shows its best blue color through the top of the stone. But viewed from another angle the stone may appear colorless.
The price of Iolites is about the same as of nice Amethysts in a good color.

Iolite is best used in Necklaces and Pendants but can also be used in rings as well.

Lilac Iolite Squares

VARIETY INFORMATION:
· VARIETY OF: Cordierite, Mg2Al4Si5O18, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate.
· USES: Gemstone
· COLOR: Various shades of yellowish gray to blue to a blue violet, deeper along the crystal axis.
· INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.52 - 1.57
· BIREFRINGENCE: is good
· HARDNESS: 7 - 7.5
· CLEAVAGE: poor in one direction
· CRYSTAL SYSTEM: orthorhombic
· Gem Source Most Iolite available today comes from Sri Lanka, Burma, India, Madagascar and Brazil. The Precambrian deposits of the Laramie Range,(Wyoming, USA), contain more than 500,000 tons of Iolite.

See our other Gem guides

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