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iolite - viking compass?
Although iolite was popular in Europe in the eighteenth century, it has been called a "sleeper" stone due to its relative newness on the market and its lack of recognition by the public.
While many gems are heated to bring out their color, iolite is used in its natural state and never heat-treated.
Pleochroism is the ability of a mineral to absorb different wavelengths of transmitted light depending upon its crystallographic orientations.
Although iolite's color is attractive and unique, it is not extremely rare and so is quite affordable.
Gem gravels are "sifted" from the water by natives using "pans" made from bamboo, in much the same way early prospectors panned for gold.
Small quantities of iolite are also mined in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Tanzania, as well as some Scandinavian countries.
the 'sleeper stone'

example of pleocroism: same piece of iolite viewed from two different sides

Exhibiting extreme pleochroism, iolite is a beautiful gem of violet blue, yellow gray and light blue � depending upon which angle one views the stone.
Iolite's color-changing pleochroism can easily be seen by the naked eye, without the aid of equipment. A cube cut from iolite can look almost sapphire violet-blue from one side, clear as water from the other, and honey yellow from the top.
This attribute is what gives iolite two of its other misleading names: dichroite (from dichroic or "two colored"), and water sapphire, because iolite's appearance can simultaneously remind one of the deep blue of sapphire and the transparency of water. Both terms are now thought to be deceptive in the gem trade and are no longer used.

alluvial gem mining, madagascar
photo: gg gems

Often found as water-worn pebbles, iolite inhabits many of the gem gravels of Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Burma (Myanmar) in particular.
Methods of accessing alluvial gem gravels include open pits, shafts and tunnels, and dredging. (Alluvial gems often have quite a high specific gravity [density] compared to other minerals so that they are easily trapped in depressions in stream beds. This causes them to become concentrated and makes it easier to mine them.)

symbolic attributes

miscellaneous
anniversary 21st
metaphysical
energy receptive / yin
element water