gemstone

Lapis Lazuli

Rock composed mainly of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite

Hardness: 5-6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Deep blue with white calcite veins and golden brassy pyrite flecks. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Isometric (individual minerals). Cleavage: None distinct. Specific gravity: 2.7-2.9.

Hardness: 5-6 on the Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified August 7, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through contact metamorphism of limestone, typically associated with intrusive igneous rocks like granites and pegmatites.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, mosaics, inlays, and historically ground into ultramarine pigment for fine art.

Geological facts

Lapis lazuli has been prized since antiquity, used by ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians for scarabs and funerary masks, including King Tutankhamun's burial mask.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its rich royal blue color combined with distinctive golden pyrite inclusions and white calcite patches. Major deposits are found in Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, as well as Chile, Russia, and the United States.

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