metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli (Complex silicate mineral mixture primarily Lazurite: (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(S,Cl,SO4,OH)2)
Hardness: 5 to 5.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Deep blue with white (Calcite) and gold (Pyrite) inclusions; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Isometric (Lazurite component); Specific Gravity: 2.7 to 2.9.
- Hardness
- 5 to 5
- Color
- Deep blue with white (Calcite) and gold (Pyrite) inclusions
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 to 5.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Deep blue with white (Calcite) and gold (Pyrite) inclusions; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Isometric (Lazurite component); Specific Gravity: 2.7 to 2.9.
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism where limestone or marble is altered by hydrothermal processes. Typically occurs in crystalline marble environments. Deposits in Afghanistan date back over 6,000 years.
Uses & applications
Primarily used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, and historically as a pigment (ultramarine) for fine art. Also a popular collector's mineral.
Geological facts
Lapis lazuli was used in the funeral mask of Tutankhamun and was the source of the world's most expensive blue pigment, ultramarine, used by Renaissance artists like Vermeer.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic 'royal blue' color and the presence of golden pyrite flecks. Common locations include the Sar-i Sang mines in Afghanistan, as well as Chile, Russia, and Canada.
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