metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis lazuli (rock composed mainly of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness of 5-5.5, deep royal blue color often speckled with golden pyrite and white calcite, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal habit with no distinct cleavage.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 5-5.5, deep royal blue color often speckled with golden pyrite and white calcite, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal habit with no distinct cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism of limestone, typically associated with intrusive granitic magmas, primarily dated to various regional tectonic events.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in high-end jewelry, carvings, ornamental objects, and historically ground into ultramarine pigment.
Geological facts
Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan for over 6,000 years and was used extensively in ancient Egyptian funerary masks, including Tutankhamun's.
Field identification & locations
Identified instantly by its deep blue hue combined with brassy pyrite inclusions; primarily sourced from Afghanistan, Chile, and Russia.
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