Lapis Lazuli 

Artists have used lapis lazuli's beautiful blue coloration for thousands of years as raw material for sculpture, pigment for frescoes and paintings, and as a source rock for gems and jewelry. Lapis Lazuli comes from Afghanistan, which is the world's largest producer. They regarded it as a symbol of their rulers' high status and held religious significance for many ancient civilizations. Michelangelo used it to create the blues in his Sistine Chapel frescos.

Price

Color, clarity, and weight determine the price of lapis lazuli. A high-quality specimen is uniformly dark blue, without calcite, and with small, evenly distributed flecks of pyrite; specimens of this type sell for $40-100. Tumbled stones of average quality usually cost $3-$8 per piece for 2.5 cm.

Healing Properties
Lapis Lazuli stimulates the Third Eye chakra for greater spiritual awareness and enlightenment. The user's psychic abilities are believed to be enhanced as the connection with spirit realms is intensified. For greater happiness and well-being, it is used for removing negative thoughts and anger.
This is metaphysical information. Please do not treat your health with crystals.

Meaning

Lapis Lazulihas been known to humans for more than 6,000 years as a magical and holy stone. These stones symbolized royalty, wisdom, honor, and power in many ancient cultures, including Roman, Greek, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Chinese. In addition to being associated with the afterlife, this stone has also been found in many Sumerian tombs. The pigment derived from lapis lazuli was reportedly used by Cleopatra for her eyeshadow.


How to Select

Lapis Lazuli Color is the most important factor. It is most valuable when it has an intense blue color. As a result of its high opacity, transparency is not always a top priority. In contrast, visible white calcite veins and small golden pyrite flecks are considered undesirable. Good polish increases the value of the sample. An absence of calcite or pyrite inclusions, which can be seen in the sunlight, may indicate a fake. A genuine gem will feel cool to the touch (it will heat up more quickly than a plastic or glass imitation). A genuine gem will rub off dye with acetone.

Composition

Most of the lazurite in lapis lazuli is feldspathoid lazurite, which has the formula (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(S,SO4,Cl)1-2. Besides calcite (white), sodalite (blue), and pyrite (metallic yellow), lapis lazuli is also rich in calcite, sodalite, and pyrite. Nevertheless, lapis lazuli does contain augite, diopside, enstatite, mica, hauynite, hornblende, nosean, and sulfur-rich löllingite geyerite in some places. Contact metamorphism produces lapis lazuli, which is typically found in crystalline marble.

Uses

It can be used in many different ways. In jewelry, it is commonly used as beads or cabochons. The blue stone is also a favorite of artists. This stone’s use in mosaics, sculptures, and inlays is widespread. Additionally, the materials used to crush it were used in the manufacture of ultramarine paint pigment. As a result of its high cost and the availability of cheaper modern pigments, it is no longer in fashion.