mineral
Lapis Lazuli
Complex rock composed chiefly of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness 5 to 5.5, deep royal blue color with distinct golden pyrite flecks and white calcite veins, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal habit.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness 5 to 5.5, deep royal blue color with distinct golden pyrite flecks and white calcite veins, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal habit.
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism of impure limestone, typically occurring in ancient crystalline rocks.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in high-end jewelry, decorative carvings, and historically crushed to produce ultramarine pigment.
Geological facts
Prized since antiquity by the ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians, lapis lazuli was frequently used in royal funerary masks and ornaments.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its rich blue hue combined with metallic pyrite inclusions; primarily mined in Afghanistan, Chile, and Russia.
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