mineral
Lapis Lazuli
Complex silicate rock (lazurite, calcite, pyrite)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 5-5.5 on Mohs scale, deep blue color with white calcite veins and brassy pyrite flecks, vitreous to greasy luster.
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Physical properties
Hardness 5-5.5 on Mohs scale, deep blue color with white calcite veins and brassy pyrite flecks, vitreous to greasy luster.
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism of limestone, primarily sourced from Badakhshan province in Afghanistan.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, inlay work, and historically ground into ultramarine pigment.
Geological facts
Lapis lazuli has been mined for over 6,500 years and was prized by ancient Egyptian pharaohs for funerary masks and ornaments.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its rich royal blue hue combined with distinct golden pyrite inclusions. Found mainly in Afghanistan, Chile, and Russia.
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