1. A hard, transparent or translucent mineral, typically blue or violet in color, used as a gemstone and in optical instruments.
Usage: Also called dichroite or water sapphire.; Mineralogy term.

Examples

• The jeweler selected a deep blue iolite for the pendant.
• Iolite is valued for its pleochroic properties, showing different colors when viewed from different angles.
• Ancient Vikings may have used iolite as a navigation aid due to its light-polarizing properties.
• The iolite gemstone is more affordable than sapphire but offers similar visual appeal.
• Iolite specimens are commonly found in metamorphic rocks.