gemstone

Lapis Lazuli

Complex silicate rock (lazurite, pyrite, calcite)

Hardness: 5-5.5 on the Mohs scale; Color: Deep blue with white calcite veins and golden pyrite flecks; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Isometric (for individual mineral components); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.9

Hardness: 5-5
Color: Deep blue with white calcite veins and golden pyrite flecks
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified August 2, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through contact metamorphism of limestone, typically associated with intrusive igneous activity, occurring in crystalline limestone. Geological ages vary from Precambrian to Cenozoic.

Uses & applications

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

Geological facts

Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan for over 6,500 years and was heavily used by ancient Egyptian pharaohs, most notably in the funeral mask of Tutankhamun.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its characteristic rich royal blue color combined with metallic brassy pyrite inclusions. Major deposits are found in Afghanistan, Chile, Russia, and the United States.

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