rock
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli (Rock containing lazurite, calcite, and pyrite)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue color with white calcite veins and golden pyrite flecks, vitreous to greasy luster.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue color with white calcite veins and golden pyrite flecks, vitreous to greasy luster.
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism of limestone, predominantly sourced from the Badakhshan province in Afghanistan.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, carvings, ornamental objects, and historically ground into ultramarine pigment for master paintings.
Geological facts
Lapis lazuli was prized by ancient Egyptian pharaohs, who used it extensively in funerary masks and royal jewelry.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its characteristic rich blue hue mixed with metallic pyrite inclusions; best found in specialized mineral shops.
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