metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Na6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(S,SO4,Cl)1-2 (primarily containing Lazurite with inclusions of Calcite and Pyrite)
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale); Color: Royal blue to deep indigo with gold flecks of pyrite; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Cubic (Aggregate); Cleavage: None/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.9
- Hardness
- 5-5
- Color
- Royal blue to deep indigo with gold flecks of pyrite
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale); Color: Royal blue to deep indigo with gold flecks of pyrite; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Cubic (Aggregate); Cleavage: None/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.9
Formation & geological history
Formed through the contact metamorphism of limestone or marble by heat and pressure from magmatic intrusions, resulting in a complex aggregate of sodalite-group minerals and other accessory minerals.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, beads, and historically as the primary source for the pigment ultramarine, used in Renaissance and medieval paintings.
Geological facts
Lapis lazuli was highly prized in ancient civilizations, including Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, where it was buried in royal tombs and believed to represent the night sky and the heavens.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its intense blue color and characteristic metallic gold flecks (pyrite) and white marbling (calcite). Look for it in crystalline limestone/marble beds near igneous borders, particularly in Sar-e-Sang, Afghanistan, and the Lake Baikal region of Russia.
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