Iolite

Composition

 Iolite or cordierite is a magnesium iron aluminum cyclosilicate. Concentrations of iolite are present in Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, and Madagascar. The name originates from the Greek term for violet, "ios".

History

Cordierite, which was first described in 1813, was found in specimens from the Níjar area of southern Spain and named for the French geologist Louis Cordier. Iolite has often been referred to as "water-sapphire" and "Vikings' Compass" since it provided the Vikings with guidance of the sun on overcast days. The first important discovery of a sizable volume of iolite was recorded in 1996 by an American geologist,  Daniel Hausal. The world's largest iolite crystal was recently found in Wyoming weighing  more than 24,000 carats.

Healing properties

Iolite is used to maximize vitality, promote metabolism, remove contaminants from the body, and encourage hair and nail development. Iolite can help provide  alternatives to seemingly impossible problems. It encourages a relaxed, optimistic state of mind, instills optimism, and assists in decision making. The mental distance it creates provides for a more critical point of view.