Iolite 4mm Faceted Coin 15-16 Inch Mexican the mineral was named for

the mineral was named for French paleontologist Eugene Durmortier (1803-1873)

limestone and copper

The blue color

meaning that their facets were cut using industrial grade diamond

is a deep blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color

Iolite 4mm Faceted Coin 15-16 Inch Mexican the mineral was named forIolite most commonly occurs in shades of blue gray, violet or indigo. It displays a visual property called pleochroism, which means that it can appear to be different colors as it shifts in the light. According to Norse legend, Viking explorers used thin pieces of Iolite as the worlds first polarizing lens to help them determine the exact location of the sun for navigation.