metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Rock composed mainly of lazurite ((Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(SO4,S,Cl)2), calcite, and pyrite
Hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue color with distinctive golden pyrite inclusions and white calcite veins, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure, specific gravity of 2.7 to 2.9
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Physical properties
Hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue color with distinctive golden pyrite inclusions and white calcite veins, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure, specific gravity of 2.7 to 2.9
Formation & geological history
Formed by contact metamorphism of limestone, typically associated with intrusive igneous rocks like granites, often dating back millions of years
Uses & applications
Used extensively in jewelry, carvings, mosaics, inlay work, and historically ground into ultramarine pigment for fine art
Geological facts
Lapis lazuli has been prized as a gemstone since antiquity, heavily used by ancient Egyptians in funerary masks, such as that of King Tutankhamun
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its rich royal blue color combined with metallic brassy flecks of pyrite and white calcite patches; major deposits are found in Afghanistan, Chile, and Russia
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