Fancy Stones

According to legend, iolite is called the Viking Compass Stone. It’s said that thin slices of iolite served as glare-reducers and polarizing filters that helped ancient Viking navigators locate the sun on cloudy days. This allowed the Nordic mariners to pinpoint their own location on the seas. The name iolite comes from the Greek word ios, meaning “violet.” Some believe that the gem aids sleep and helps to unlock creativity. Iolite is often cited as the twenty-first wedding anniversary gemstone.

Like waters deep and ancient, Peruvian amazonite beckons in captivating shades of aqua, promising to soothe the spirit and calm the soul. Its energy is as powerful as the river for which it is named, and as bold as the legendary women warriors with whom it is connected, yet it tempers aggression, tames the irrational, and stills the disquiet. It provides harmony and balance. One of my favorites!

The color of apatite is similar to beautiful tropical waters. Apatite is named from the Greek word apate, meaning “to deceive” or “guile.” There is a figure in Greek mythology named Apate who was the spirit of deceit and deception. Apatite received this name because it was so often confused for other minerals. Most commonly apatite is confused with fluorite and aquamarine.Apatite is found in a number of places in the world, including Myanmar (Burma), India, Kenya, Brazil, Norway, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Mexico, Canada and the United States. Madagascar is known to produce a neon blue-green material that is highly desirable. A rare variety is a rich purple apatite from Maine.

Tourmalines are mined everywhere in the world including Africa, Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Siberia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, the USA, and Zimbabwe.
Ancient legend says that tourmaline is found in all colors because it traveled along a rainbow and gathered all the the rainbow's colors. Tourmaline is believed to strengthen the body and spirit, especially the nervous system, blood, and lymph. It is also thought to inspire creativity and was used extensively as a talisman by artists and writers.

Tanzanite was first discovered in 1967 in Tanzania, East Africa. As one of the newest and most exotically colored gemstones, Tanzanite is part of the Zoisite mineral species and is only found in East Africa. Tanzanite is very rarely a pure blue and usually exhibits rich purple overtones.