Hematite 4mm Rondelle - 15-16 Inch WWGCollar Viking explorers used thin pieces

Viking explorers used thin pieces of Iolite as the world’s first polarizing lens to help them determine the exact location of the sun for navigation

the mineral was named for French paleontologist Eugene Durmortier (1803-1873)

so only a finite amount of rough material remains

whose name is derived from the Greek word for Rose

first known as saualpite

Hematite 4mm Rondelle - 15-16 Inch WWGCollar Viking explorers used thin piecesHematite is an iron oxide and one of the few gemstones with a metallic luster. When tumbled it can have the look of polished steel. Hematite is black to steel to gray or silver to gray, as well as brown to reddish brown or red in color. Its name is derived from the Greek word for blood, haima, owing to its red appearance when sliced thinly or powdered.