rock

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli (Rock containing lazurite, calcite, and pyrite)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale. Color: Deep blue, royal blue, with white calcite veins and golden pyrite flecks. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Isometric (individual minerals). Cleavage: None. Specific gravity: 2.7 to 2.9.

Hardness: 5 to 5
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified August 1, 2026More rock →

Explore Lapis Lazuli in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through contact metamorphism of limestone, typically associated with intrusive igneous activity. Found mainly in the Kokcha River valley in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, as well as Chile, Russia, and the USA.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in jewelry, carvings, mosaics, inlay work, and historically ground into ultramarine pigment for master painters.

Geological facts

Lapis lazuli has been mined for over 6,500 years and was highly prized by ancient civilizations including the Egyptians, who used it in King Tutankhamun's burial mask.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its characteristic deep blue color mixed with metallic gold pyrite specks and white calcite patches. Common locations include Afghanistan, Chile, and Russia.