The Uses of Iolite

Iolite is a mineral that is made from magnesium, iron, aluminum and silicate. It is found in many regions all over the world and is generally affordable. While the main uses for this gemstone is ornamental jewelry, there are other uses that this stone was used for including ceramic coatings for catalytic converters and as a polarizing filter.

Iolite is a beautiful warm violet or bluish stone, it is commonly mistaken as a type of blue sapphire, but it has properties that make it distinctive. For instance, Iolite has a property known as pleochroism. In effect, it was first used as a polarizing filter.

It is well documented that the Vikings, including Leif Eriksson used Iolite to help navigate his ship. Once ships are no longer in view of the coast, one of the ways to plot your direction and course is to calculate the degree of the sun. Unfortunately, looking straight into the sun is not practical. Many sailors used Iolite as the first sunglasses to stare directly into the sun.

Iolite, if cut properly, will have three different types of features, one side will look like a normal gem, in this case violet blue, the other side when looked through will be clear like glass or water. The third side will have a yellow or honey tint, similar to today’s sunglasses. Iolite has been know for thousands of years and was named by the Greeks, the name means violet.

Today, Iolite is creating buzz in the jewelry industry, because it is becoming very popular. It is very affordable and looks great in many settings whether it is a ring, bracelet or earrings.

Iolite - The History and Origins

Iolite while not as popular in the past is creating a big buzz, with its beautiful colored stones that work well with today’s fashion sensibilities and style. Iolite has been know for thousands of years and was actually widely used by the Vikings and other sailors for its distinct properties. Iolite gemstones are known to have the effect called pleochroism. In common terms it is a polarizer or used as the first sunglasses so to speak.

It was extensively used by the Vikings that once were out of range from land needed to chart their course, generally with the help of the sun. However, looking straight into the sun is not healthy, and this made it difficult to determine degrees, so the stone Iolite was used. If cut properly Iolite can be peered through in three different ways. First looking through one of its sides will give the effect of a normal gemstone, that of a nice bluish purple or violet, looked through from the other side and you will see clearly through the stone as if you were looking through glass or water. Finally, looking through the top of the stone will give it a polarized effect, yellow or honey in hue, like many of today’s sunglasses.

Iolite is a name given by the Greeks; it means violet which is the primary color that is comes in. However, it is known as another name dichroite which means two colored stones. This name however is no longer used. It is mined all over the world but specifically in India, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Brazil. It is very affordable and great for ornamental jewelry uses.