metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli (Complex silicate rock containing Lazurite (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(S,Cl,SO4,OH)2, Calcite, and Pyrite)
Hardness: 5-5.5; Color: Deep celestial blue with golden pyrite inclusions and white calcite veining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Isometric (Lazurite component); Specific gravity: 2.7-2.9
- Hardness
- 5-5
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-5.5; Color: Deep celestial blue with golden pyrite inclusions and white calcite veining; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Isometric (Lazurite component); Specific gravity: 2.7-2.9
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism where limestone or marble is altered by hydrothermal processes. The most famous sources are over 6,000 years old in the Sar-e-Sang mines of Afghanistan.
Uses & applications
Used in jewelry (cabochons and beads), ornamental carvings, and historically ground into the pigment 'Ultramarine' for fine art.
Geological facts
It was used in the funeral mask of Tutankhamun and was prized by ancient Mesopotamians as the 'stone of the gods'. It is actually a rock composed primarily of multiple minerals rather than a single mineral species.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic intense royal blue color and the presence of metallic gold-colored pyrite specks. Found primarily in Afghanistan, Chile, Russia, and Myanmar. Real lapis will not melt or lose color when wiped with acetone (unlike dyed sodalite).
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