Lapis Lazuli hand-cut HEARTS from Pakistan.

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, diopsite, enstatite, micas, hauynite, hornblende, geyerite (a sulfur-rich variety of lollingite) and noseane can also be found 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 gemstones. 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 usually arises by contact metamorphosis in crystalline marble. Lapis lazuli has been known since ancient times. In the city of Ur, as early as 4000 B.C.E. traded in. It was one of the commodities 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 so in demand throughout the Middle East that as early as the 13th century BC. imitations were made. For example, cylinder seals of King Annipi and his father Adummu are known from the city of Sidon, which have been given a dark blue color with the help of cobalt salts. In ground form, lapis lazuli was also used as a blue dye (ultramarine), which was also very popular in Renaissance painting.