Lapis Lazuli For Sale

Lapis lazuli is unlike most other gem materials because it is not a mineral. Instead, it is a rock composed of multiple minerals! Lapis lazuli's blue color is mainly derived from the presence of the mineral lazurite. This rock is highly sought after in the gem trade as it is used for a variety of ornamentations and jewelry. Additionally, lapis lazuli was prized throughout the ancient world as a symbol of status and wealth, especially in Egypt and Mesopotamia.

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Minerals & Crystals

$2 - $27,500

What Is Lapis Lazuli?

Lapis Lazuli (abbreviated as lapis in the gem trade) is a gemstone that is, at its base, lazurite and other minerals, typically calcite and pyrite. To be called "lapis lazuli," a rock must have a distinctly blue color and contain at least 25% blue lazurite. The white marbling in the rock is attributed to the presence of calcite, and the gold speckling is from tiny, randomly spaced grains of pyrite. Some sources attribute the blue in lapis lazuli to the mineral hauyne, a blue sodalite closely related to lazurite. The most widely believed composition of lapis lazuli is a blend of lazurite, hauyne, calcite, and pyrite.

Lapis Lazuli’S Exciting Past

Lapis lazuli has been one of the most enduring gemstones in history. There is a record of lapis lazuli’s use as far back as the earliest Mesopotamian civilizations! The stone was a major source of trade between Mesopotamian and Egyptian merchants given that it was a symbol of wealth and status for ancient rulers. Significant amounts of lapis were found in King Tut’s tomb, and it was believed to be a favored eye-shadow pigment of Cleopatra. Lapis was included in many ancient texts as a symbol of reward and affluence, including the Christian bible and the epic of Gilgamesh. The pigment ultramarine was originally crafted using ground up lapis lazuli and many famous Renaissance artists pioneered painting with this specific blue. However, the paint was so expensive due to import by land from from Afghanistan to Europe that the use of ultramarine was reserved for important portions of paintings, such as focal points and religious icons.

How Does Lapis Lazuli Form?

The combination of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite is formed during recrystallization in contact metamorphism. This occurs when an igneous body (magma) intrudes into an area with existing rock. The close proximity and heat alter the existing rock as the magma crystallizes forming new metamorphic rock.

Where Is Lapis Lazuli Found?

The world’s primary source of lapis lazuli is Afghanistan, where massive quantities are mined each year. Afghanistan's Sar-i-Sang mine has been mined for lapis lazuli over the past 6,000 years, providing early Egypt, Greece, and Rome with the gemstone. While Afghanistan is the primary supplier, there are a couple other noteworthy mines in Chile and Russia. Aside from these locations, the only other regions that mine very small amounts of lapis lazuli are Pakistan, Angola, India, Canada, and the United States.

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Polished Lapis Lazuli - Pakistan #170881

What Is Lapis Lazuli?

Lapis Lazuli’S Exciting Past

How Does Lapis Lazuli Form?

Where Is Lapis Lazuli Found?

Featured Photos