Lapis Lazuli
| Colour | Blue |
|---|
What is Lapis Lazuli?
Lapis lazuli is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color. Its name originates from the Persian word for the gem, lāžward, and serves as the root for the word for "blue" in several languages, including Spanish and Portuguese azul and English azure. Lapis lazuli is a rock composed primarily of the minerals lazurite, pyrite, diopside, and calcite. As early as the 7th millennium BC, lapis lazuli was mined in the Sar-i Sang mines, in Shortugai, and in other mines in Badakhshan province in modern northeast Afghanistan. Lapi
How to identify Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli in different forms
Stones often confused with Lapis Lazuli
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Lapis Lazuli?
Lapis Lazuli's hardness varies; see the property table above.
What colour is Lapis Lazuli?
Lapis Lazuli is typically blue.