Lapis Lazuli

Lapis, also called lapis lazuli, is a rock, not a mineral, because it is made up of several minerals, including calcite, sodalite and pyrite. It's a complicated gem, and the structure can vary considerably, which affects the hardness, specific gravity and color. The main component is the mineral lazurite, which can account for up to 60 percent of the structure.

The best lapis is mined in Northeastern Afghanistan, where it has been mined for 6000 years. Afghanistan lapis has a wonderful depth of blue and is free of pyrite. It is also the most expensive. Some experts believe lapis from Russia and Siberia is superior, but it contains pyrite. Personally, I like pyrite in lapis, but that's just my own bias. Other sources say that lapis mined in the Andes competes in quality with that from Afghanistan. Lapis is also mined in the US in Colorado and California.

Lapis can have a matte finish, or more commonly a polished finish. It is always opaque. Afghanistan was the source of lapis for the ancient Egyptians and the Mesopotamian cultures, as well as the ancient Greeks and Romans. The earliest cultures valued lapis more than gold. The ancient Egyptians were often buried with a lapis scarab for protection.

Lapis opens the third eye and raises one's vibrational level. It greatly assists in meditation and is a good stone to assist spiritual development. It encourages truthfulness.

On the physical level lapis is said to alleviate irritation, anxiety, fatigue, depression, laryngitis, high cholesterol, blood pressure and aid vision.

Lapis has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale with 10 being the hardest.