Iolite

[Wwoofa]

Hi,
This month's "Gem of the Month" is .... Iolite.

Feel free to add more info & pics. If anyone has any questions about Iolite then this is a good place to post them.

You might like to change your "Gem of the Month" votes now that this one has been covered.

General Information:
The name "iolite" comes from the Greek word for violet. Another old name is dichroite, a Greek word meaning "two-colored rock", a reference to Iolite's strong pleochroism. Gem quality Iolite varies in color from sapphire blue to blue violet to yellowish gray to light blue as the light angle changes. Iolite is sometimes used as an inexpensive substitute for sapphire. Here are a few useful links that should cover all of the main information.

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordierite
Mindat - http://www.mindat.org/min-5119.html

Fossicking Locations:

NT - Harts Range
The primary location for collecting gem quality Iolite is the Entia Valley, Harts Range, Central Australia. The Entia Valley is situated to east/southeast of Harts Range Police Station.

Some more info and a map is here ...
http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Minerals_Energy/index.cfm?header=Central Harts Range

There are some nice examples for sale at Outback Gems ...
http://www.outbackgem.com.au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=14&Itemid=9

QLD - Mt Philp (Cloncurry)
Travel 60km west from Cloncurry on the Overlander’s Highway towards Mount Isa, turn left 100m before the Fountain Springs Rest Area. Follow this track in 27km to Fountain Range on your right and Mount Philp on your left.  The large split in the Fountain Range marks the entrance to the picturesque permanent waterhole of Fountain Springs.  Restricted Area (RA245) covers an Iolite occurrence in the Mount Philp area. Information and details regarding access and permission should be obtained locally if intending to visit.

Here are nice pics previously posted by Toppster ...

[smg id=4804 type=preview align=center width=400 caption="Iolite from Cloncurry"]
[smg id=4805 type=preview align=center width=400 caption="Iolite & Garnets from Cloncurry"]

[Wwoofa]

Hi,
Having done some research on Iolite I'm really keen to try to find some.  If anyone has any recent experiences in either Hart's Range or Cloncurry I'd love to hear about it.
Regards, Paul

[Gemhunter]

Wwoofa

We were up at the Mount Isa iolite back in Septmber. Dug around for a few hours and found some bits n pieces. Cuttable stuff is hard to find but there is plenty of iolite on the ground. We just specked and loaded up a couple of buckets in a couple of hours

The track isnt too bad, however exploration companies have been putting in new tracks to access Mount Phillip for diamond drilling so it is easy to get lost. The track in also runs up a section of creek and can be pretty rough, especially after the wet

[Hunter V]

wow this is a very beautiful gem. I would love to get up there and fine me a few winners.

one day.