Lapis Lazuli: Properties, Facts and Photos

Contents 1. What is Lapis Lazuli? 2. The Meaning of Lapis Lazuli 3. History of Lapis Lazuli 4. Mask of Tutankhamun 5. Fake Lapis Lazuli 6. Lapis Lazuli Properties 7. Article Pictures 8  Shop Lapis Lazuli

What is Lapis Lazuli?

Lapis lazuli is a deep-blue metamorphic rock that's been prized for its colour for thousands of years.

Because specific geological conditions are required for it to form, lapis lazuli can only be found in a few places around the world. In recent years, this has helped historians reconstruct ancient trade routes.

Lapis lazuli is a rock, not a mineral, because it's composed of several different minerals.

The golden inclusions of pyrite that can often be seen are in the mineral lazurite. Lazurite is one of several minerals that make up lapis lazuli. It's also responsible for the stone's blue colour.

Other minerals that may be present include white calcite, diopside, enstatite, mica, sodalite, haüyne, (I believe lazurite is a variety of haüyne ) and hornblende.

Most of the world's lapis lazuli comes from the Sar-e Sang deposit in Badakhshan Province, northeast Afghanistan. It has been mined there for more than 6,500 years. As well as being some of the world's oldest mines, they're also the most difficult to reach. The only access is by a network of narrow trails high up on treacherous slopes in the Hindu-Kush Mountains.

Although several mines were once in operation, only one is in use today.Lapis lazuli can also be found in Siberia and Chile. In recent years, the quality of some stone from Chile has rivalled material from Afghanistan.

It can also be found in a few other countries but in relatively small quantities.

On the Mohs scale of hardness, lapis lazuli grades 5 to 5.5, so scratches quite easily.

Ultramarine, a highly sought-after deep blue pigment, was used in art, mainly paintings, from ancient times until 1826. It was made from the mineral lazurite, but lapis lazuli was often used instead because it was extremely rare.

It was once said that ultramarine was more valuable than gold. Ultramarine stopped being used when a synthetic alternative was produced.  

Some claim Michelangelo's painting 'The Entombment' was unfinished because he couldn't afford ultramarine. It may also have been because it was in short supply.

The Italian painter Rafael, known for his frescoes, particularly those in the Vatican, is said to have only used ultramarine for the final coat of his paintings. However, it's believed he may have used azurite instead for the base layers because it was cheaper.

The Meaning of Lapis Lazuli

The name 'lapis lazuli' translates to 'stone from the sky' or 'stone from heaven'.  

The word 'lapis' comes from Latin for 'stone', while 'lazuli' comes from 'lazulum', which comes from the Arabic word 'lāzaward'. 'Lāzaward' comes from the Persian word 'lājevard'. These words all relate to the sky or heaven in reference to lapis lazuli's deep blue colour.

Lapis lazuli, which has a long and interesting history, was first mined and used by civilisations that lived in what is today Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Persian word 'lājevard' is likely to have been its original name.

As lapis lazuli travelled along ancient trade routes and became more widely known, the Arabic word 'lāzaward' would have emerged. It would have changed from Arabic to Latin as the stone reached Europe.

Although not related to the meaning of 'lapis lazuli', the golden inclusions of pyrite have been likened to stars in the sky.

Today, the word 'azul', from the Latin 'lazulum', is used in several languages to describe the colour blue.

History of Lapis Lazuli

The history of lapis lazuli can be traced back thousands of years. One of the oldest and best-known gemstones, it was highly sought after by some of the earliest civilisations including Babylonia, Ur and ancient Egypt. Lapis lazuli was often carved into amulets and talismans and used for jewellery and in religious ceremonies.

Carvings found in ancient Egyptian tombs, including King Tutankhamun's, date back 3000 years BC. The boy king's funerary mask is one of the world's most famous artefacts.

This priceless work of art features lapis lazuli, white quartz, obsidian, turquoise, amazonite, carnelian and coloured glass.

In his work, Theophrastus on Stones, the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus wrote about lapis lazuli. This blue-coloured rock was included in the group called 'valuable stones'.

Three hundred and fifty years later, Pliny the Elder, Roman author, naturalist and philosopher, described it as "a blue stone with spots of gold that was never transparent." The spots of gold referred to the inclusions of pyrite. At this time, the mineral pyrite was relatively unknown.

When comparing lapis to azurite, Pliny said, "Lapis lazuli coloured like azurite is considered to be male." In ancient times, stones were either male or female.  Darker stones with more distinctive characteristics were male, and those with less colour were female.

Blue stones with a more solid colour that didn't feature inclusions of pyrite were known as 'cyanus'. It's believed the name is likely to have incorporated other dark blue-coloured stones as well.

In modern times, lapis lazuli has often been confused for sapphire, not because of any visible similarities or characteristics, but because in the ancient world, lapis lazuli was known as sappheiros.

Pliny wrote, "Sapphirus included with spots of gold is not suitable for engraving." This would have been because the pyrite was too hard to cut through.

The Romans adopted the word 'sapphirus' from the Greek 'sappheiros'. 

In ancient Egypt, lapis lazuli was believed to open the heart to love and lead the soul into immortality. The book of Exodus states 'sappir' was one of the twelve precious gemstones in the breastplate of the Jewish high priest.

During excavations of the royal graves in the ancient Sumerian city of Ur, artefacts featuring gold, silver and gemstones were discovered. Many exhibited exceptional craftsmanship, skill and artistry.

The wide range of materials indicates the presence of huge wealth and an extensive network of trade. This is apparent because many of the stones and metals are not found in the region.

Sumer was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. It was home to one of the earliest civilisations. Over 6000 items carved from lapis lazuli were found there.

The lapis lazuli is believed to have come from Afghanistan and was transported to countries including Mesopotamia, Ur, Egypt and India.

The 'golden lyre of Ur' is crafted from gold and lapis lazuli. It was found in the grave of a king during a 1928 British Museum expedition to Ur (modern-day Iraq). It's a fine example of ancient Sumerian art, dated to approximately 3500 BC. The lapis lazuli necklace in the next photo comes from the same location.

The pictures link to a collection of great photos of the golden lyre of Ur. 

Beware of Fake Lapis Lazuli

Other natural minerals are often used to produce fake lapis lazuli. Sodalite, azurite and calcite are two of the most common. Low-grade lapis lazuli can also be dyed to make it look more visually appealing. Paraffin is used to seal the dye and improve the polish.

Another trick used when producing fake lapis lazuli is to dye the white calcite.

If a stone has been dyed, the colour should come off when touched with acetone (nail polish remover) or diluted hydrochloric acid. The colour of genuine lapis lazuli is stable, so won't fade in bright sunlight or when exposed to high temperatures.

If a stone has a suspicious-looking mark, you could prick it with a hot needle. If plastic, paraffin or another type of filler has been used, you should smell burning.

The problem with most tests to establish whether any rock or mineral is genuine is that some damage will be caused.

The weight of the stone could also be a clue, depending on the material used. Sodalite is lighter than lapis lazuli.

The pyrite inclusions often present in lapis are virtually impossible to reproduce effectively.

Lapis Lazuli Healing Properties

Lapis lazuli is deeply spiritual and encourages the truth to be spoken. It also promotes inner peace, harmony and serenity.

It expands intellectual capacity and awareness and stimulates clarity of mind.

The healing properties of lapis lazuli make it useful for those looking to bring more structure and organisation into their lives.

It has long been used to protect against dark forces.

Lapis lazuli can strengthen your connection with your higher self and can also be used to enhance meditation.

Holding a stone or having it close by can help bring thoughts and feelings together. It can guide you towards finding that idyllic place where everything is in perfect harmony.

Lapis lazuli can help you tap into your inner wisdom and intuition. It calms the mind and unleashes a world of possibilities.

It's sometimes used for dreamwork, strengthens psychic ability, and blocks negative energy. Its calming energy makes it ideal for dealing with stress. 

Lapis lazuli encourages creativity, clears the mind to make room for new ideas and inspires confidence. It boosts feelings of happiness and contentment and helps build trust and harmony in a new relationship.

Article Pictures

The picture at the top of our article is courtesy of James St.John.

The second photo is of lapis lazuli being polished in Afghanistan. The tumbled stones are from our collection.

The funerary mask of King Tutankhamun is housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The golden lyre of Ur and the lapis lazuli necklace are in the Penn Museum, Philadelphia.

All pictures, except for the lapis being polished, are clickable.

Pop-up photos: The snow quartz tumbled stones and mica are part of our collection. Turquoise, amazonite, pyrite, azurite - Courtesy of Stan Celestian. Diopside - Courtesy of The Arkenstone. Haüyne - Courtesy of Géry Parent.