About Iolite

About Iolite

🔵 Iolite | The Viking Compass Stone with Shifting Color

Iolite, also known as cordierite, is a pleochroic gemstone—meaning it changes color depending on the angle of the light. Gem-quality iolite can flash from deep sapphire blue to steely grey or even violet with a simple tilt, thanks to its strong crystal axis behavior.

This optical phenomenon isn’t just pretty—it may have guided entire civilizations.

Long called the Viking Compass Stone, iolite is said to have been used by Nordic sailors to navigate open seas long before GPS. According to legend, thin slices of iolite acted as natural polarizing filters, helping seafarers locate the sun even through cloud cover or ocean haze. Whether myth or method, the stone has been tied to intuition, direction, and clear-sightedness for centuries.

Geologically, iolite is a magnesium iron aluminum silicate. It forms in high-grade metamorphic rocks and is typically found in regions like Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, and parts of the U.S.

Iolite ranks about 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it a solid choice for everyday jewelry—especially rings and pendants where the shifting hues can truly show off.

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