How do I identify Lapis Lazuli?

Lapis Lazuli can be identified by its hardness of 5 - 6 on the Mohs scale, Deep blue color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Lapis Lazuli?

Lapis Lazuli typically appears in Deep blue, violet-blue, greenish-blue. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Lapis Lazuli?

Lapis Lazuli has a hardness of 5 - 6 on the Mohs scale. This gives it moderate hardness.

Lapis Lazuli

Precious Gemstone

What is Lapis Lazuli?

Lapis Lazuli is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious gemstone. It is prized for its intense color and has been used for jewelry and ornamental objects since ancient times. The best lapis lazuli has a rich, uniform blue color with little to no pyrite inclusions. It is composed mainly of lazurite, a feldspathoid silicate mineral, and often contains pyrite (fool's gold) and calcite.

Optical Properties

Refractive Index: 1.50
Birefringence: 0.005 - 0.010
Pleochroism: None
Optical Character: Isotropic
Dispersion: Low

Lapis Lazuli Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Lapis Lazuli using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.