gemstone
Lapis Lazuli
Complex silicate rock containing lazurite, pyrite, and calcite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 5-5.5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue color with golden pyrite flecks and white calcite veins, vitreous to greasy luster, opaque, specific gravity 2.7-2.9.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 5-5.5 on the Mohs scale, deep blue color with golden pyrite flecks and white calcite veins, vitreous to greasy luster, opaque, specific gravity 2.7-2.9.
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism of impure limestone, typically found in ancient metamorphic terranes and skarn deposits.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in high-end jewelry, decorative carvings, mosaics, and historically ground into ultramarine pigment.
Geological facts
Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan for over 6,000 years, supplying the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its rich royal blue coloration combined with metallic brassy pyrite inclusions. Found prominently in high-altitude mountain regions.
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