(Mg,Fe)₂Al₄Si₅O₁₈
Iolite
A reported Viking use as a sunstone, a polarising filter to find the sun in cloud, stays a legend with a physical basis.
- Formula
- (Mg,Fe)₂Al₄Si₅O₁₈
- Mohs hardness
- 7–7.5
- Crystal system
- orthorhombic
- Colour
- violet, blue
- Element
- air
- Chakra (tradition)
- third eye
- Zodiac
- Sagittarius, Taurus, Libra
- Month
- —
- Where the earth keeps it
- India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar
What it actually is
Iolite is (Mg,Fe)₂Al₄Si₅O₁₈ before it is a story. The lattice is orthorhombic, Mohs 7–7.5, and the eye meets violet, blue.
The better pieces still come out of the ground in India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar. A reported Viking use as a sunstone, a polarising filter to find the sun in cloud, stays a legend with a physical basis.
What the old tradition whispers
The parlour tradition ties Iolite to air and to the third eye centre. The old site stood it near: Sagittarius, Taurus, Libra.
How not to turn it to ash
A hard stone survives a daily ring, yet two diamonds in one box will scratch each other. Warm water and a soft cloth are enough.