LAPISLAZULI

Lapis lazuli is an intense blue gemstone with a noticeable indigo hue. Lapis lazuli is a mixed rock. It contains a variety of minerals such as SODALITE and LAZURITE, the latter being at the source of the shade of colour for which lapis lazuli is so prized. Lapis lazuli may contain CALCITE particles, which are those white veins which sometimes streak the surface. But it more frequently contains PYRITE, which looks like gold dust. Its relative density is 2.6 g/cm³(quite similar to that of QUARTZ), and its hardness is between 5-6 on the Mohs scale.

Lapis lazuli was already made into jewellery in ancient times, in places such as India, China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Centuries have gone by, but it is still much prized and valued. Alfonso X of Castile mentioned it in his "El Lapidario", which dates back to the 13^th c. (a wonderful copy is still held in the Royal Monastery of El Escorial). He calls it the "blue stone", and describes it from an aesthetical rather than a scientific point of view by highlighting its resemblance to gold. "The most beloved one is that with golden veins or droplets.It is a frail stone, and when put beside gold or blended with it, it makes both look fairer."

It is also processed by artists to make the pigment "Ultramarine". It was very much prized by the Tsars. Lapis lazuli has been found in a number of places such as Chile, but the finest and most beloved for its colour comes from Afghanistan

It is commonly mistaken for SODALITE, one of the minerals contained in the Lapis lazuli rock. Sodalite is navy blue, but lacks Lapis lazuli’s characteristic indigo hue. There is also a possibility to darken specimens of a clearer colour, or even have different minerals simply dyed blue. Another risk exists, which is that of mistaking synthetic stones for natural stones. Those are artificially made, and sometimes little pieces of PYRITE are added unto them to make them look more authentic. This is why, if you are planning to purchase a Lapis lazuli specimen, it would be advisable to resort to an expert, a professional on whom you may rely to avoid undesirable surprises.