metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Lazurite-dominant Metamorphic Rock (complex aluminosilicate)
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale), Color: Cobalt blue with gold (pyrite) and white (calcite) inclusions, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Crystal Structure: Isometric (for lazurite component), Cleavage: Indistinct
- Hardness
- 5-5
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale), Color: Cobalt blue with gold (pyrite) and white (calcite) inclusions, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Crystal Structure: Isometric (for lazurite component), Cleavage: Indistinct
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism where limestone or marble is altered by hydrothermal processes. Major deposits date back millions of years, notably found in the Sar-e-Sang mines of Afghanistan.
Uses & applications
Extensively used for jewelry, lapidary carvings, decorative pigments (ultramarine), and as a collector's specimen. Historically used for making paint for Renaissance artists.
Geological facts
Lapis lazuli was highly prized in ancient Egypt for amulets and funerary masks (including Tutankhamun's). It is not a single mineral but a rock containing lazurite, pyrite, and calcite.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic intense blue color, the presence of golden pyrite flecks, and its association with marble or limestone deposits. Commonly found in Afghanistan, Chile, Russia, and Canada.
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