Polished Large "Water Sapphire" Standing Display Piece with Sillimanite x 1 From Ambatofinandrahana, Madagascar

A NOTE FROM NICK 
A large polished Iolite "Water Sapphire" standing display piece with unusual blue spark inclusions, a rare variety of Cordierite with big pink Sillimanite spots. This material only came up once in 30 years of trips and having our yard in Madagascar.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 
Malagasy Iolite with Groovy Pink Sillimanite Spots 
Iolite, sometimes known as "Water sapphire", is the blue material from the Cordierite family of minerals.  This specific Iolite is an extremely unique and rare Malagasy Iolite, polished by expert lapidaries, features subtle pink Sillimanite (heavy) spots and patterns, but it is the small bright blue flashes that make this material very desirable and therefore making it a unique collector’s gem. Formed in metamorphic rocks from minerals like mica and feldspar, its deep blue, nearly black in low light, contrasts vividly with the pink inclusions. Only one consignment of this exclusive material was ever received.

PRODUCT MINERALS 
Cordierite, Magnesium Iron, Aluminium Cyclosilicate, Sillimanite

PRODUCT FEATURES 
Rare, Orthorhombic, Pleochroism

PRODUCT COLOUR 
Blue, Black, Pink

MOHS HARDNESS SCALE
7 to 7.5

PRODUCT DATA
Locality = Ambatofinandrahana, Madagascar  
Grade = Very Good Grade
Size = 170 x 95 x 50 mm