lapis lazuli
crystallized lapis lazuli from Afghanistan
sculpted lapis-lazuli from China
lapis lazuli pearls from Afghanistan
Detailed sheet
lapis lazuli
This is a rock of variable composition containing from 35 to 40% of lazurite (which gives it the beautiful blue color), sodalite, some nosean, some hauynite.
Its name comes from the Arabic for “blue”. Azure blue color, greenish blue, dark purple, caused by sulfur, and of a deep color for rocks of good quality, or otherwise with veins and spots. Some are pale because of an excess of calcite. Small golden crystals of pyrite can often be seen.
This is one of the stones that were the most sought after in ancient times, the Egyptians would seek it even in Afghanistan at Sar-e-Sang.
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Main color
blue
deep blue to purple-blue
Color of streak
blue
Luster
dull
Hardness
5.0 to 6.0
Density
2.50 to 3.00
Cleavage
none
Fracture
granular, uneven
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
Transparency
opaque
Refractive index
1.500 - 0.000
Double refraction
0.000
birefringence illegible, biaxial negative
visible double refraction
No
Pleochroism
absent
Number of colors
1
Fluorescence
variable
white, orange (in its white parts)
Inclusions
calcite, pyrite
CRYSTALS PROPERTIES
in aggregates
this rock is a mixture of minerals, lazurite is cubic
OTHER INFORMATIONS
Astrological sign
Gemini, Pisces, Sagittarius
APPROACHING GEMS
Exploited
sites
For nearly 6000 years it has been extracted from limestone, where it is found unevenly distributed, in the mountains of the Hindu Kush in western Afghanistan. They are also found in Russia, in a white marble (Lake Baikal), in Chile (north of Santiago, in Ovalle), Angola, Burma, the United States (California, Colorado), Pakistan, Tajikistan … …..
use in jewelry
It was used since ancient times, in the Middle Ages it was used to prepare blue dyes and pigments for paints. Very expensive, it was often replaced by azurite. It was used as decorative wall tiles or to make columns. The precious cabinets in the Renaissance era, often had partial inclusions of lapis lazuli as well as some mosaics of stones. It is cut cabochon for rings, into balls for necklaces, carved in objects for windows, vases, cameos.
Lapis lazuli is the stone for the anniversary of the ninth year of marriage.
Daily care
and precautions
It looks solid but it is fragile, gets damaged by bathing it in hot water, soap, acids. It must avoid contact with household cleaners and should be washed carefully with warm water, and dry immediately. When it is tinted, solvents can dissolve the dye.
imitations and
treatments
Some powder and fragments are sometimes bonded with resin to reconstruct it in blocks. We know how to synthesize it since 1954, and since 1974 we sell one kind that is too homogeneous. Glass imitations are also available. A heating or dye can enhance its color, whether organic dyes are easy to detect with acetone, it is impossible to do the same test when the stones are covered with resins. If it is polished with an abrasive and a blue dye, the color is more even and becomes very difficult to detect. One of the most common imitations is dyed jasper.
Historical
healing properties
It evokes the night sky full of stars and would make us feel in our minds the protection of the Cosmos, opening us to the infinite life of the Universe. Moreover, many civilizations admired lapis lazuli, sacred stone messenger of Heaven, bringing wisdom. In Sumer it was called “the rock of the stars,” in Egypt it represented the goddess Isis, but in Rome it was considered as a powerful aphrodisiac.
It would guide the mind inward, and fortify it. Placed on the frontal chakra, it can lead very deep within us, facilitating intuition and inner vision to grasp the hidden meaning of hidden elements. They say it would be in close contact with the throat chakra and act on this part of the body with a very strong energy, so it was often worn as a necklace in many civilizations, in order to be near to this chakra and act permanently.
Other
Gems
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