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Fake vs Real Iolite
Are you unsure if your Iolite is real? Is it a fake being passed off as the real deal? Are you confusing it for another blue stone? Let's learn to pick out genuine Iolite crystals for your collection.
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What is Iolite?
Iolite is a stone best known for its violet-blue colors and pleochroism. To learn details about Iolite, visit Iolite Crystal Meaning.
How can you tell if your Iolite is real?
The best way to know if your Iolite is real or fake is to buy from a reputable seller who knows what they are selling you.
Although seldom faked and rarely treated, Iolite can be mistaken for Blue Aventurine, Blue Sapphire, or Tanzanite. Vendors may also pass off dyed glass as Iolite.
If you do not have access to a reputable seller, here are some tips to follow to tell if your Iolite is real:
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Real Iolite is a 7-7.5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. This makes it harder than stainless steel. It will not be scratched by stainless steel (which is a 5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness). Use your steel keys, knife, or scissors to scratch the surface of the stone. It should not scratch. You could also try this test with an Apatite crystal which is a 5 on the scale or glass which is 5.5. It will be scratched by harder materials like Topaz, Corundum, Masonry Drill Bits, or Diamonds.
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Real Iolite shows pleochroism. This is best seen in gemmy, translucent pieces of Iolite and the distinct colors can be seen with a dichroscope.
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Real Iolite will not resist high heat. It will never be heat-treated like other stones because of its low melting point.
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Real Iolite will never have air bubbles. Air bubbles are an indication of glass. Use a magnifying jeweler's loupe to help you see into the stone.
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Real Iolite will have inclusions. Notice the mineral inclusions, veins, craters, dips, platelets, and imperfections in your stone. You may not find these in a fake.
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Real Iolite can be magnetic. Because of its iron content, Iolite can be attracted to a magnet.
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- Real Iolite will always have a white streak. Despite its outward appearance, Real Iolite will have a white or clear powder in the crystal streak test.
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Real Iolite has a stable color. Testing with acetone should not remove any color from the stone.
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Real Iolite is only found in a certain color range. It can range from yellow, blue, and violet, and very rarely clear. There is a green version but it is called Praseolite, not Iolite.
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Real Iolite has a specific gravity between 2.58 and 2.66. Here is a video on how to measure your stone's density at home.
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Real Iolite has a refractive index range of 1.542 to 1.578. This test requires a refractometer.
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Real Iolite is always cold to the touch. It will take a while to heat up in your hands whereas plastic or resin will be relatively warmer.
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Real Iolite does not usually fluoresce under UV light. However, rarely it can show a weak yellow fluorescence under longwave UV.
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Real Iolite will not dissolve in water. Faux Iolite made of clay or other materials may dissolve.
None of these tests are conclusive in themselves. If you are still unsure, you can send your stone to a certified gemological laboratory for testing. You can also find additional tips in the Crystal Identification Help.
What is pleochroism?
A great way to determine if your Iolite is real is to look for its pleochroism. Iolite exhibits this phenomenon in which the same stone reflects different colors depending on the angle and source of the light.
Iolite shows trichroism, or three colors:
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Violet Iolite shows light purple, dark purple, and yellow-brown.
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Blue Iolite shows clear to yellow, blue-gray, and dark purple.
Pleochroism is best seen in translucent gemstones and through scientific tools like dichroscopes and polariscopes.
Is it Iolite, Blue Aventurine, Blue Sapphire, or Tanzanite?
Some vendors may be naively or deceptively mislabeling their Iolite as other blue stones. The sting is not so bad if you end up with Iolite over a cheaper stone like Blue Aventurine, but if you are sold Blue Aventurine in place of Iolite, that's a different story! Blue Aventurine in its glittering dark formation is often mislabeled as "Indian Iolite".
Iolite is often used as a more affordable substitute for Blue Sapphire and Tanzanite.
Iolite vs Blue Aventurine
These stones can be confused because some vendors mark their Blue Aventurine stones as "Indian Iolite" while vendors mark their Bloodshot Iolite as "Aventurine Iolite".
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They can both have a similar blue color, but Iolite leans towards a violet hue while Aventurine leans towards a traditional blue to a navy blue.
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On the Mohs Scale of Hardness, the two stones are pretty similar: Iolite is at 7-7.5 and Aventurine is at 6.5-7.
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They can both have glittering inclusions, but it is usually Mica platelets that give Aventurine its shine.
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Iolite shows pleochroism but Aventurine does not.
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Iolite has a specific gravity between 2.58 and 2.66. Aventurine is between 2.64 and 2.69.
- Iolite has a refractive index range of 1.542 to 1.578. Aventurine is 1.544 to 1.553.
Iolite vs Blue Sapphire
Iolite and Blue Sapphire can both have the same blue tones. Adding to the confusion between the two stones, Iolite is sometimes inaccurately marketed as Water Sapphire.
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Blue Sapphire is a form of Corundum while Iolite is a mineral known as Cordierite.
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Blue Sapphire is a much harder stone on the Mohs Scale of Hardness at 9 versus Iolite's 7.
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Both stones show pleochroism. Whereas Iolite is trichroic, Sapphire is dichroic (only showing two vs three color wavelengths).
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Blue Sapphires can be heat treated to intensify their colors, but Iolite can not withstand high temperatures.
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Blue Sapphire will cost more than Iolite on the gemstone market.
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Iolite has a specific gravity between 2.58 and 2.66. Sapphire is between 3.97 and 4.05.
- Iolite has a refractive index range of 1.542 to 1.578. Sapphire is 1.759-1.763.
Iolite vs Tanzanite
Iolite and Tanzanite can be confused because of their similarities: they can both have pleochroism, they are both orthorhombic, they can both be found in Tanzania, and they can both have the same violet color.
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Iolite and Tanzanite are different gemstones with different chemical compositions. Iolite gets its color from iron. Tanzanite gets its color from Vanadium and is not magnetic.
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On the Mohs Scale of Hardness, the two stones are pretty similar: Iolite is at 7-7.5 and Tanzanite is at 6.5-7.
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Tanzanite only comes from Tanzania and is more rare than Iolite.
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Most Tanzanite is treated to bring out its violet colors. Unheated Tanzanite is very rare and is also trichroic like Iolite. Heated Tanzanite is dichroic.
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Tanzanite is much more expensive than Iolite.
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Iolite has a specific gravity between 2.58 and 2.66. Tanzanite is 3.35.
- Iolite has a refractive index range of 1.542 to 1.578. Tanzanite is 1.691–1.700.
Shop Real Iolite Stones
The power of real Iolite can never be replaced by fakes. Go ahead, try it for yourself. Here are real stones from the Satin Crystals Iolite Collection to add to your treasures:
Crystal Guides
Contact Satin Crystals
Have any questions about crystals? Comment below! Sheila, Ann, and Lisa Satin would love to hear from you. We'll reply soon.
Disclaimer: The metaphysical information provided is for entertainment only.
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