LAPIS LAZULI

LAPIS LAZULI	Early jewelry gem
Major Sources	Afghanistan & Pakistan
Colors Found	Blue
Family	Lazurite
Hardness	5 to 6
Refractive Index	1.50
Specific Gravity	2.50–3.00
Crystal System	Rock composed mostly of lazurite (cubic)
Enhancements	May be enhanced

The word lapis is the Latin word for “stone.” The names lazuli and lazurite are derived from the Persian lazhuward and Latin lazulum, both meaning blue or heaven. Its full name “lapis lazuli” is often shortened to lapis.

Legend and lore

Few gems have such a long and storied history as lapis lazuli. Mentioned in the Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh (2650 BC) and in the book of Exodus in the Bible, lapis was also used by ancient Egyptians in religious ceremonies. Not only does lapis appear in various passages in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, but lapis items have also been found in royal tombs, including that of Tutankhamun. The ancient city of Ur had a thriving trade in lapis as early as the fourth millennium BC.

The Greeks and Romans used it as a reward for bravery and the Romans also believed lapis to be a powerful aphrodisiac. Lapis was also employed by the Greeks and Romans for inlay work and for jewelry, amulets and talismans. They named it sapphirus (blue), which is now used for the blue variety of corundum, sapphire.

When lapis was first introduced to Europe, it was called ultramarinum, meaning “beyond the sea.“ Lapis was once powdered and mixed with oil to produce the pigment ultramarine, which is seen in the beautiful blues of Renaissance paintings. Ultramarine has been made synthetically since 1828.

In the Middle Ages, lapis was thought to keep the limbs healthy and free the soul from error, envy and fear. During the 17th century, it was used in medicine to prevent miscarriages, epilepsy and dementia.

Attributed with great curative and purifying properties, lapis allegedly points the way to enlightenment, and aids in the opening of the third eye. Popular with ancient alchemists, it was used in medicine, cosmetics and paintings. It was also believed to confer ability, success, divine favor, ancient wisdom and cure sore throats. No wonder it was once as valuable as gold.

The Arab geographer Istakhri recorded a visit to the Afghanistan lapis mines in the 10th century and Marco Polo visited and wrote about them in 1271.

Just the facts

The famous lapis mines at Sar-e-Sang in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan region have been in operation for some 7,000 years, making them among the oldest and longest-producing mines on the planet.

Lapis lazuli is actually a rock. Consisting mainly of lazurite, lapis also contains brassy pyrite specks and white calcite veins and patches. The best lapis is a rich royal blue color with no visible calcite and just a light dusting of sparkling flecks of pyrite (fool’s gold), adding to its mystical allure.