mineral

Lazulite

Lazulite (Mg,Fe2+)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2

Hardness: 5.5–6 (Mohs scale); Color: Azure-blue, deep blue, or blue-green; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 3.0–3.1. It is often pleochroic, showing different shades of blue or colorless from different angles.

Hardness: 5
Color: Azure-blue, deep blue, or blue-green
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified January 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Lazulite forms through high-grade metamorphism of silica-rich rocks and in hydrothermal veins. It is most commonly found in quartzite, schist, and granitic pegmatites. It is associated with other phosphate minerals and quartz.

Uses & applications

Primary use is as a collector's mineral specimen. Rare, high-quality translucent crystals may be cut into gemstones for jewelry, though its relative softness makes it more suitable for pendants or earrings rather than rings.

Geological facts

Its name is derived from the Arabic word 'lazaward', meaning 'heaven' or 'blue.' It is often confused with Lapis Lazuli due to the name, but they are geologically distinct; Lazulite is a phosphate mineral, whereas Lapis is a rock containing the silicate mineral Lazurite.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its distinctive intense blue color and association with quartzite. It can be distinguished from Azurite by its greater hardness (it does not react with HCl) and from Lapis Lazuli by its crystal habit. Major localities include Graves Mountain (Georgia, USA), the Yukon (Canada), and various sites in Austria and Sweden.