PRODUCT INFORMATION

General Description

Cordierite / Iolite / Water Sapphire is a non-gemmy variety which occurs in “large” bodies. The material is then beautifully polished by world class Lapidaries done in South Africa. This material is exceptionally rare with only a few kg’s becoming available on an infrequent basis. The colour tends to be fairly dark blue and in the absence of good light can look almost black. The latest material from Northern Cape has bright blue streak like features, which remind me of labradorite! very funky and rare stuff out of South Africa! Very collectible rare material. General Information - Cordierite is named after Pierre Louis Antoine Cordier (Abbeville, France 31 March 1777 - Paris 30 March 1861), French mining engineer and geologist, who first studied this species. The mineral has been reported in a wide range of colours; Grey, blue, blue-violet, greenish, yellowish brown; colourless to noticeably light blue in transmitted light. Perhaps the most desirable and collectible colour is gemmy blue which is then generally referred to as Iolite. Iolite, it is often used as a gemstone. The name "iolite" comes from the Greek word for violet. Another old name is dichroite, a Greek word meaning "two-coloured rock", a reference to cordierite's strong pleochroism. It has also been called "water-sapphire" and "Vikings' Compass" because of its usefulness in determining the direction of the sun on overcast days, the Vikings having used it for this purpose. Price is grade dependant. Item/s is as shown.

Product Data

Locality = Madagascar
Grade = Very Good Grade
Size = 74 - 78 mm | 2.9 - 3.1 inch
Net Weight = 1.5 Kg | 3.2 Lbs
Product Type = Small Batch

Net Weight = 1.46 kg
SKU = IOLPBTO145305