|
|
Iolite
 |
General Information:
Iolite gets its name from the Greek ios, which means violet. Iolite is
also known as the Viking's compass or Viking's stone. According to ancient
Scandinavian sagas, Norse navigators would look through thin pieces of iolite
formed into a lens as the first polarizing filter. This lens would help them on
overcast days to determine the suns position, and to allow them to navigate
thier boats safely. Iolite
has a violet blue color and is sometimes called referred to as water sapphire.
Over the years iolite has become more popular in jewelry, but is still not as
popular or well known as many other colored gemstones.
It is common in iolite to see three different color shades in one stone, this
is called pleochroism. This effect often makes it challenging for the cutter to
cut the gem at its best. If done correctly the violet-blue color will be most
pronounced at the top of the faceted gem. |
Origin:
Iolite is mainly mined in India but can also be found in Sri Lanka, Tanzania,
Madagascar, the United States, and Brazil. |
Common Treatments and Lab Created
Forms:
There are no known treatments to enhance iolite. |
Physical Properties:
Moh's Scale Hardness: 7-7.5
Specific Gravity: 2.53 - 2.78
Refractive Index: 1.522 - 1.578
Fracture: Orthorhomic
Crystal system: (Trigonal), hexagonal prisms
Colors: Violet blue, light blue or yellow gray
|
|
Product Menu at top
