Iolite Information

Iolite is a pleochroic, Iolite meaning a single stone showing many colours. In the case of iolite, these Colors are violet-blue, light blue and yellow-grey. These colour combinations led people to describe iolite as “water sapphire.” Legend holds that Viking explorers used iolite when they ventured far into the Atlantic, away from the coastline that could help them determine position. Relying on iolite, they were able to determine the precise position of the sun and navigate safely to the new world and back. Thin pieces of iolite were used as a polarizing lens filter.