metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli (Mineral composition: Lazurite (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(SO4,S,Cl,OH)2, Calcite, and Pyrite)
Hardness: 5-5.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Deep celestial blue with golden flecks (pyrite) and white veins (calcite); Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Isometric (as lazurite); Specific Gravity: 2.7 to 2.9
- Hardness
- 5-5
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-5.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Deep celestial blue with golden flecks (pyrite) and white veins (calcite); Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Isometric (as lazurite); Specific Gravity: 2.7 to 2.9
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism where limestone or dolostone is transformed by heat and chemical activity from nearby igneous intrusions. Most famous deposits are over 6,000 years old in the Sar-e-Sang mines of Afghanistan.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry (cabochons and beads), ornamental carvings, and historically ground into powder for 'ultramarine' pigment used by Renaissance painters.
Geological facts
Lapis lazuli was highly prized by Ancient Egyptians, who used it for the funeral mask of Tutankhamun and believed it aided in the passage to the afterlife. It is technically a rock, not a mineral, because it is composed of multiple minerals.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its intense 'Royal Blue' color and the presence of golden brassy pyrite inclusions. High-quality specimens should have minimal white calcite. Found primarily in Afghanistan, Chile, Russia, and Canada.
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