metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli (A metamorphic rock primarily composed of Lazurite: (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(S,Cl,SO4,OH)2)
Hardness: 5 to 5.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Deep celestial blue with golden flecks of pyrite and white streaks of calcite; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Isometric (aggregate); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.7 to 2.9
- Hardness
- 5 to 5
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 to 5.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Deep celestial blue with golden flecks of pyrite and white streaks of calcite; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Isometric (aggregate); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.7 to 2.9
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism where heat and pressure from molten magma transform limestone or dolomite into a crystalline rock. Key deposits in Afghanistan date back over 6,000 years to the Neogene period.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a gemstone in jewelry (cabochons, beads, carvings), ornamental objects, and historically ground into 'ultramarine' pigment for fine arts and cosmetics.
Geological facts
It was used in the funeral mask of Tutankhamun and by Renaissance artists like Michelangelo. Unlike most gemstones, it is a rock (a mixture of minerals) rather than a single mineral species.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinct 'royal blue' hue, golden pyrite inclusions, and white calcite mottling. Major sources include the Sar-e-Sang mines in Afghanistan, Chile, Russia, and Canada.
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