gemstone

Lapis Lazuli

Complex rock composed mainly of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite

Hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue color with characteristic golden pyrite flecks and white calcite veins, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with no distinct cleavage, specific gravity of 2.7 to 2.9

Identified August 2, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through contact metamorphism of limestone, typically in ancient geological settings over hundreds of millions of years

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, mosaics, and historically ground into ultramarine pigment for master paintings

Geological facts

Lapis lazuli has been prized since antiquity, used in ancient Egyptian funerary ornaments including the death mask of King Tutankhamun

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its intense royal blue color combined with metallic brassy pyrite inclusions; primarily mined in Afghanistan, Russia, Chile, and the United States

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ZrO2 (Cubic Zirconia) or C (Diamond)

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Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions

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Black Opal Ring (Carved Opal)

Hydrated Silicon Dioxide (SiO2·nH2O)

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Zirconium dioxide (or Carbon)

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