metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis lazuli (a rock primarily composed of Lazurite, (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(S,Cl,SO4,OH)2)
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale), Color: Deep blue to violet-blue, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Crystal structure: Isometric (dominant mineral), Cleavage: Poor, Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.9
- Hardness
- 5-5
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale), Color: Deep blue to violet-blue, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Crystal structure: Isometric (dominant mineral), Cleavage: Poor, Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.9
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism where limestone or dolomite is altered by hydrothermal activity. Famous deposits in Afghanistan are over 6,500 years old.
Uses & applications
Used for jewelry, ornamental carvings, high-end pigment (Ultramarine), and as a gemstone for collectors.
Geological facts
Historically, it was ground into a powder to create ultramarine, the most expensive blue pigment during the Renaissance. It was favored by artists like Vermeer and Michelangelo.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic intense blue color and frequent inclusions of golden pyrite (fools gold) or white calcite veins. Commonly found in Afghanistan, Russia, and Chile.
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