metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli (Rock composed mainly of Lazurite, Calcite, and Pyrite)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue color with distinctive golden pyrite flecks and white calcite veins, and vitreous to greasy luster.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue color with distinctive golden pyrite flecks and white calcite veins, and vitreous to greasy luster.
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism of limestone, predominantly sourced from the Sar-e-Sang mines in Badakhshan, Afghanistan.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in high-end jewelry, carvings, ornamental objects, and historically ground into ultramarine pigment for master painters.
Geological facts
Prized by ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, lapis lazuli was famously used in the funeral mask of King Tutankhamun.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its rich royal blue coloration combined with metallic pyrite inclusions; primarily mined in Afghanistan, Chile, and Russia.
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