Anyone have any experience in Iolite?

[BurntBear]

I have these massive (10-15) lb. specimens which look like Iolite to me. They are in some sort of Mica/Schist-like host. Photos 4 & 5 are the same specimen and it is basically one huge blue crystal. Input? Thanks!

 

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[Turkısh Man]

İt seems Sodalite, a mineral of alkaline igneous and plutonic rocks that are low in silica, of the chemical composition of sodium aluminum silicate with chlorine, Na4Al3Si3O12Cl. Pink sodalite is sometimes called hackmanite. Sodalite and lazurite form the sodalite Group of silicate minerals.Hardnes 5-5.5.
İolite crystal hardnes 7-7.5,color purple-blue,other name Water Sphıre like Cordierite.

 

[rodoconnor]

BB you should read some of Dan Hausel's writings regarding iolite..That is some cool looking stuff there.

 

[Brian T. Booth]

I have these massive (10-15) lb. specimens which look like Iolite to me. They are in some sort of Mica/Schist shale-like host. Photos 4 & 5 are the same specimen and it is basically one huge blue crystal. Input? Thanks! <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1035373"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1035374"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1035375"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1035376"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1035377"/>

Where where these specimens? Location is key when identifying minerals.

 

[BurntBear]

BB you should read some of Dan Hausel's writings regarding iolite..That is some cool looking stuff there.

I've read everything he has on Iolite.

 

[BurntBear]

Where where these specimens? Location is key when identifying minerals.

I don't want to say just yet,lol. I will say that however unlikely, it's still possible.
Some resources say it's only found two places on Earth but that is incorrect.

Just so there is no confusion from the start:

Iolite variations of Cordierite ARE found in the Appalachians.

 

[huntsman53]

Have you considered the possibility of it being Sapphire? It sure has that Sapphire sheen in some of the pics and extremely large but mostly fractured Sapphire specimens have been found across many locations in North Carolina. I don't know if the story is true but I was told about 10 years ago, that a new house was built on a fairly large lot not far from Franklin and when they tried to have a water well drilled, the Drillers could not drill a well as they kept hitting what they said was very hard rock. Well after bringing in an expert and some Diamond drill bits and drilling into the rock, it was said that the property sits on top of a large Sapphire.


Frank

 

[BurntBear]

Yes, thank you. I figured if it's not Iolite; it's possibly Sapphire. Either way, it was a fun find and I'm going back for more!

 

[Brian T. Booth]

I have these massive (10-15) lb. specimens which look like Iolite to me. They are in some sort of Mica/Schist shale-like host. Photos 4 & 5 are the same specimen and it is basically one huge blue crystal. Input? Thanks! <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1035373"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1035374"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1035375"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1035376"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1035377"/>

You have a great specimen. But the The crystal structure isn't there for sapphire nor iolite. What you have is blue quartz. If this was found in the Appalachians then I'm almost certain that is what it is. I've studied along the Appalachians and have many specimens of this blue quartz myself. Do some tests and try to determine the hardness. Below are some pics I found from the web. Hope this helps. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Good luck and happy hunting.

Brian T. Booth

 

[BurntBear]

Thanks for that bit of information. Quartz was definitely my first thought; it's just not very common. My specimens resemble both Iolite & Sapphire. Blue Quartz would be neat though. I'd be excited if it was just quartz; it's all cool to me! It also looks like some apatite specimens I've seen.

I noticed that all of the blue colors are from rutile needle-like inclusions. You can move a light over the specimens and it will turn to translucent-colorless/white. It does not stay blue with light shining through it.

 

[huntsman53]

Thanks for that bit of information. Quartz was definitely my first thought; it's just not very common. My specimens resemble both Iolite & Sapphire. Blue Quartz would be neat though. I'd be excited if it was just quartz; it's all cool to me! It also looks like some apatite specimens I've seen.

I noticed that all of the blue colors are from rutile needle-like inclusions. You can move a light over the specimens and it will turn to translucent-colorless/white. It does not stay blue with light shining through it.

With the last statement, then it may be possible that it is a Kyanite/Quartz mass.


Frank

 

[BurntBear]

I just had a smaller specimen under magnification and the needles could be a blue tourmaline or a like thereof. I'm going to try and get a photo.

Hey huntsman, I thought of Kyanite as well. I couldn't find any other Kyanite in that area (and I was looking for it), but lots of these blue crystals with the needle inclusions. I have tons of them. The Kyanite I have stays deep blue when you shine a light through it.

 

[BurntBear]

Here is a photo up close of a 25mm x 20mm specimen:

 

[Brian T. Booth]

I just had a smaller specimen under magnification and the needles could be a blue tourmaline or a like thereof. I'm going to try and get a photo. Hey huntsman, I thought of Kyanite as well. I couldn't find any other Kyanite in that area (and I was looking for it), but lots of these blue crystals with the needle inclusions. I have tons of them. The Kyanite I have stays deep blue when you shine a light through it.

Kyanite has two planes of cleavage this specimen does not have this type of crystal structure.

 

[BurntBear]

A small but very clear specimen:

Approx. 8mm x 5mm 2.5 ct.

It is pale blue normally but when pointing the light on it; as shown, it turns colorless/white.

 

[Eu_citzen]

The blue can be washed out due to the strong light. Iolite can if you rotate it show different colours in different directions.
A hardness test of course is a good idea to limit possibilities.

 

[BurntBear]

I'm taking a small specimen in to the gemologist this week. He's going to test it for me. It should be fun!

 

[JLeonhardy]

So nu? What's the verdict?

 

[BurntBear]

Yes, Blue Quartz.

 

[JLeonhardy]

Blue quartz is nice! I've not seen any before. Get any crystal out of it, or does it tend toward the massive, like rose quartz?