![Lapis Lazuli (Low-grade/Calcite-heavy) (Na8[Al6Si6O24]n(S,Cl,SO4,OH)2 (Lazurite component)) — metamorphic](https://media.rockidentification.com/27637334-a94a-4194-9018-faa301f0b1e4-compressed.jpg)
metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli (Low-grade/Calcite-heavy)
Na8[Al6Si6O24]n(S,Cl,SO4,OH)2 (Lazurite component)
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale); Color: Azure blue mottled with white and grey; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Isometric; Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.9
- Hardness
- 5-5
- Color
- Azure blue mottled with white and grey
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
Identified More metamorphic →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale); Color: Azure blue mottled with white and grey; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Isometric; Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.9
Formation & geological history
Formed via contact metamorphism, typically when limestone or marble is altered by heat and pressure from magmatic intrusions. Often found in deposits billions of years old.
Uses & applications
Primarily used in jewelry for beads and cabochons, decorative carvings, and historically as a pigment for ultramarine paint.
Geological facts
The blue color comes from the sulfur in the lazurite mineral; the white inclusions in these beads are calcite, and the grey/metallic bits are likely pyrite.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive deep blue color paired with white calcite mottling. Major sources include the Sar-e-Sang mines in Afghanistan, as well as Russia and Chile.
More like this
