Lapis Lazuli

Physical Properties

Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale), Color: Cobalt blue with gold (pyrite) and white (calcite) inclusions, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Crystal Structure: Isometric (for lazurite component), Cleavage: Indistinct

Formation & Geological History

Formed through contact metamorphism where limestone or marble is altered by hydrothermal processes. Major deposits date back millions of years, notably found in the Sar-e-Sang mines of Afghanistan.

Uses & Applications

Extensively used for jewelry, lapidary carvings, decorative pigments (ultramarine), and as a collector's specimen. Historically used for making paint for Renaissance artists.

Geological Facts

Lapis lazuli was highly prized in ancient Egypt for amulets and funerary masks (including Tutankhamun's). It is not a single mineral but a rock containing lazurite, pyrite, and calcite.

Field Identification & Locations

Identify by its characteristic intense blue color, the presence of golden pyrite flecks, and its association with marble or limestone deposits. Commonly found in Afghanistan, Chile, Russia, and Canada.

Identified on: 5/20/2026

Mode: Standard