metamorphic
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli (Complex aggregate of Lazurite (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(SO4,S,Cl,OH)2, Pyrite, and Calcite)
Hardness: 5 to 5.5 (Mohs scale); Color: Deep celestial blue to violet-blue with golden pyrite specks and white calcite veins; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Isometric (for lazurite component); Specific Gravity: 2.7 to 2.9
- Hardness
- 5 to 5
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5 to 5.5 (Mohs scale); Color: Deep celestial blue to violet-blue with golden pyrite specks and white calcite veins; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Isometric (for lazurite component); Specific Gravity: 2.7 to 2.9
Formation & geological history
Formed through contact metamorphism where limestone or dolomite is modified by hydrothermal processes, typically found in marbles.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry as cabochons or beads, ornamental carvings, and historically as the pigment ultramarine for fine art.
Geological facts
Lapis Lazuli has been mined for over 6,000 years, with the most famous mines located in the Sar-i Sang district of Afghanistan. It was highly prized by Ancient Egyptians for amulets and funerary masks, including the mask of Tutankhamun.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its characteristic 'royal blue' color and the presence of metallic gold-colored pyrite inclusions. It is most famously found in Afghanistan, but also in Chile, Russia, and the USA.
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