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Lapis lazuli, often simply called lapis, is a deep blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious gemstone prized since antiquity for its intense color.
Color: Deep royal blue, often with flecks of gold-colored pyrite and white calcite veins.
Composition: Primarily composed of the mineral lazurite, with inclusions of calcite, pyrite, and other minerals.
Sources: The finest quality historically comes from Afghanistan (Sar-e-Sang mines), but it’s also found in Chile, Russia, and Pakistan.
Uses: Jewelry, carvings, inlay, and even historical ultramarine pigment used in Renaissance paintings.
Real lapis has a rich, ultramarine blue tone, often with tiny golden pyrite inclusions.
Fake lapis (often dyed howlite or plastic) may look too bright or have a glassy finish.
A scratch test (real lapis is about 5–6 on Mohs hardness scale) and close-up view of pyrite inclusions can help verify authenticity.