Lapis Lazuli from Badakshan/Afghanistan 200-300 grams.

Lapis lazuli or lapis lazuli is an opaque semi-precious stone with an intense azure blue color. It is not a mineral but a rock, because it consists of more than one component. It is mainly mined in Afghanistan. The main component of lapis lazuli is lazurite (25% to 40%), a feldspar substitute with the chemical formula (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(S,SO4,Cl)1-2.[1] Other important components are: calcite (white), sodalite (blue) and pyrite (yellow - metallic shiny). Furthermore, the minerals augite, diopside, enstatite, micas, hauynite, hornblende, geyerite (a sulfur-rich variety of lollingite) and noseane may also occur in lapis lazuli. Lapis lazuli is not particularly hard for a gemstone. On the Mohs scale, the hardness is 5.5, which means that the stone can easily be scratched by harder gems. It is therefore not wise to store jewelry with lapis lazuli together with harder gemstones. Lapis lazuli is attributed spiritual power by alternative healers. Lapis lazuli is usually created by contact metamorphism in crystalline marble. Lapis lazuli has been known since ancient times. In the city of Ur, there was already 4000 BC. acted in. It was one of the trade products of trade between Sumer, Dilmun and Meluhha. It was also very popular in ancient Egypt. For example, it was used for Tutankhamun's death mask. It was in such demand throughout the Middle East that it was sold as early as the 13th century BC. imitations were made. From the city of Sidon, for example, cylinder seals of king Annipi and his father Adummu are known that have been given a dark blue color with the help of cobalt salts. Lapis lazuli was also used in ground form as a blue dye (ultramarine), which was also very popular in Renaissance painting.