metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli (Complex silicate rock containing Lazurite: (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(S,Cl,SO4,OH)2)
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale); Color: Deep blue with gold-flecked pyrite and white calcite veins; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Isometric (Lazurite component); Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.9.
- Hardness
- 5-5
- Color
- Deep blue with gold-flecked pyrite and white calcite veins
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs scale); Color: Deep blue with gold-flecked pyrite and white calcite veins; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Isometric (Lazurite component); Specific Gravity: 2.7-2.9.
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism of limestone or marble. Major deposits occur in Afghanistan, where mining dates back 6,000 years, as well as Russia and Chile.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry, ornamental carvings, mosaics, and historically ground into the pigment ultramarine for fine arts.
Geological facts
Lapis Lazuli was highly prized by Ancient Egyptians, who used it for the funeral mask of Tutankhamun. It is technically a rock composed of multiple minerals (lazurite, pyrite, calcite, and sodalite) rather than a single mineral.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic intense 'royal blue' color paired with golden pyrite flecks. Can be found in crystalline marble environments. Collectors should look for deep uniform blue with minimal white calcite.
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