Cordierite

Cordierite/Iolite/Dichroite comes from the Greek word Violet, meaning violet-colored, and Dichroite comes from the Greek word "dichroic", referring to the gemstone's strong polychromy. Cordierite is also known as aquamarine because of its sapphire-like color. It is also known as the poor man's sapphire because it has the color and luster of a sapphire and is much less expensive than a sapphire.

【Origin】

Cordierite is mainly found in Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar, and to a lesser extent in Lanyu, Taiwan.

【Color】

The color of cordierite is blue, light blue, light purple, light yellow, and light brown, speaking of color, we have to mention one of the most important characteristics of cordierite is its polychromy, cordierite in the polychromy of the most commonly occurring colors for the blue, purple, yellowish (or colorless), which is the naked eye to distinguish between cordierite and sapphire's biggest difference.

【Type】

Cordierite is subdivided into three types, namely, iron cordierite, cordierite and blood spot cordierite.

①Iron Cordierite

The two main components of cordierite, magnesium and iron, can be replaced by the same image, and when the iron content is greater than the magnesium element, it is called iron cordierite.

②Cordierite

That is, when the magnesium content is higher than the iron content is called cordierite, the more famous is produced in India, magnesium-rich varieties, often used to make gemstones also known as India stone.

③Blood Spot Cordierite

Cordierite is mainly produced in Sri Lanka, and is mainly characterized by the rich content of iron oxide baths and the specific direction of the arrangement of cordierite with a color band is called blood point cordierite.

【Treatments】

Cordierite is quite stable in energy and cannot be heated to change its color, and is generally not treated in any way. As such, cordierite is a genuine gemstone.

Common sizes of cordierite range from 1-10ct, but high quality stones over 5ct are rare.

【Uses】

① It can be used as a gemstone if the color is beautiful and transparent. Gemstone grade cordierite is usually blue or violet in color, and blue cordierite is known as "Water Sapphire".

②Cordierite is used in ceramics, glass, and other materials, and is widely used as the base material for car purifiers.

【Wear and Preservation】

Cordierite is a durable gemstone with a hardness of 7 or more, but it is less resilient and fragile, so avoid impacts when wearing it.

The best way to clean it is warm soapy water.