| Iolite: A gemstone which has been gaining in popularity over the last few years is
Iolite. This gemstone is a wonderful  color, in ranges of Violet, bluish violet, violet blue, and blue.
It can be transparent to translucent. Under magnification there may be inclusions
but in general look for stones which are eye-clean. Inclusions of hematite cause
reddish aventurescence (bloodshot Iolite); other inclusions cause cat's eyes and
stars, although these are quite weak. The differences in the color hues can be
subtle and usually does not affect the over all value of the stone. The
Iolite that is in highest demand is deep, bright, vivid blue. Color may be
very strong blue in one direction, changing to pale grayish-blue to nearly colorless or
yellowish as the stone is turned. While Sapphire and Tanzanite can be
very expensive, especially in the larger sizes, Iolite supplies are very plentiful and so
is relatively inexpensive. Iolite over 10 carats is rare though and prices
will reflect that.
What makes this an interesting stone is its
historical importance. The Vikings relied on this stone to venture far out to
sea. Remember that back in the times of the Vikings there were no instruments to
assist in navigation.
They relied on the position of the sun, the stars
etc. They took thin slices of iolite to use as a polarizing lens, they could
hold it up and determine the exact position of the sun. With this bit of crude
technology they were one of the first to voyage across the oceans to the new world
and safely back. Historians feel they mined this iolite in Norway and
Greenland.
The name iolite comes from the Greek "ios",
which means violet.
Iolite exhibits a characteristic known as
"Pleochroism" which means exhibiting different colors, especially three
different colors, when viewed along different axis. Iolite is sometimes known as
Dichroite to some gemologists. This characteristic, although fascinating to look at,
presents a definite challenge to cutters. If the rough is not cut at the angle
the iolite wishes to be cut, the stone will not exhibit the rich color that it
possesses.
Another fascinating characteristic of Pleochroism is
the contrast between the stone's face up blue or violet color and its colorless appearance
through the side. This is why Iolite is sometimes referred to as "Water
Sapphire"
For durability it is rated as "fair".
I would suggest this stone be utilized in ear-rings or in a pendant to avoid the knocks of
everyday life. It has a hardness rating of 7 - 7 1/2.
Care of your Iolite: The safest way to clean
your Iolite Jewelry is with warm soapy water. Avoid the ultrasonic and steam
cleaner.
Today Iolite is mined in India, Sri Lanka,
Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Brazil.
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