rock
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli (Rock containing lazurite, calcite, and pyrite)
Hardness: 5-6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Deep blue with white calcite veins and brassy pyrite flecks. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Aggregate/Massive. Specific gravity: 2.7-2.9.
- Hardness
- 5-6 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Deep blue with white calcite veins and brassy pyrite flecks
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Deep blue with white calcite veins and brassy pyrite flecks. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Aggregate/Massive. Specific gravity: 2.7-2.9.
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism of limestone, typically associated with intrusive igneous rocks. Geological age varies, with major deposits like those in Afghanistan dating back hundreds of millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in jewelry, carvings, ornamental objects, and historically ground into ultramarine pigment for fine art.
Geological facts
Lapis lazuli has been prized since antiquity, notably used in the funerary mask of King Tutankhamun and by Renaissance masters as ultramarine pigment.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its rich royal blue color combined with distinctive golden pyrite flecks and white calcite patches. Primarily mined in Afghanistan, Chile, and Russia.
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