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Chemical Composition and Formation Process

Lapis lazuli is a metamorphic rock composed primarily of lazurite, a complex sodium calcium aluminum silicate with the formula (Na,Ca)₈(AlSiO₄)₆(SO₄,S,Cl)₂. Its vivid blue color is due to the presence of the sulfur element in lazurite. Other minerals commonly found in this rock include calcite (white veins), pyrite (gold flecks), sodalite, and haüyne. It forms under high-pressure and low-temperature conditions in limestone through contact metamorphism, where heat and pressure from igneous intrusions cause the transformation of pre-existing rocks into new mineral compositions.

Names and Alternative Names

The name “Lapis Lazuli” derives from Latin, where “lapis” means “stone,” and “lazuli” comes from the Medieval Latin word “lazulum,” adapted from the Persian “lāzhward,” meaning “blue.” Alternative names include simply “Lapis” and “Lazurite Stone.” The stone was also historically called “Sapphire” by ancient cultures, as the modern blue corundum (sapphire) was not known at the time.

Mythology and Legends

Ancient Egypt: Lapis lazuli was a sacred stone, associated with the goddess Isis and contained the soul of the deity. It enjoyed use in amulets, scarabs, and burial masks, including the iconic funerary mask of Tutankhamun.
Mesopotamia: In Sumerian mythology, it symbolized royalty and divinity. The Epic of Gilgamesh describes the god Enkidu being fashioned from clay and lazurite stone, illustrating its significance.
Buddhism: In ancient Tibet, lazurite stone was used for meditation and spiritual practice. The stone helped in attaining enlightenment and associated with the Medicine Buddha, promoting healing.
Islamic Traditions: Artists used Lapis lazuli to create blue pigments for decorating mosques, reflecting the heavenly realm and God’s divine presence.
Renaissance Europe: During the Renaissance, artists grounded lazurite stone into a pigment called ultramarine. Artists used it to depict the robes of the Virgin Mary, symbolizing purity and the divine.

Mining, Production and Use

Historic Production:

Lapis lazuli has been mined for over 6,000 years. The oldest known deposits are in the Sar-e-Sang mines in the Badakhshan region of northeastern Afghanistan. Ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Greeks, and Romans, prized lapis lazuli for jewelry, seals, and talismans, often using it in carvings, inlays, and mosaics.

Modern Production:

Afghanistan remains the most significant source of high-quality lapis lazuli, with additional deposits found in Chile, Russia (Lake Baikal), Italy, and the United States (California and Colorado). Modern miners extract the rock from metamorphic environments using traditional and mechanized techniques. After extraction, lapis lazuli is cut, polished, and often shaped into beads. Bead-making involves grinding the stone into smooth spheres, followed by drilling holes for stringing. Because lapis is relatively soft, it can be fashioned into cabochons, beads, carvings, and inlays.

Uses:

Historically, artists used ground lapis to produce ultramarine pigment for frescoes, manuscripts, and paintings. Today, the stone primarily enjoys use in jewelry, decorative items, mosaics, and small sculptures. In bead form, lapis lazuli is popular for bracelets, necklaces, and meditation malas.