IOLITE

REFRACTIVE INDEX    1.522  -  1.578
HARDNESS       7 - 7.5
SPECIFIC GRAVITY     2.53  -  2.78

MINERAL  CLASS       Cordierite

  


This stone, which represents one of the few relatively available and affordable blue stone options, is rapidly gaining in popularity. 
    
Iolite gemstone is typically blue, violet or brownish.  Iolite has different colors in different directions in the crystal. 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.

 

The best color is a lovely violet blue which commands a premium price.  Any traces of brown or yellow can significantly reduce the price. 

 Most of the iolite  comes from India, but substantial amounts are also mined in Tanzania, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Madagscar and Burma.