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Lapis Lazuli
青金石 (Color (Finest Quality
Violetish blue, medium to…
Lapis Lazuli
青金石
- Lapis lazuli is valued for its history & rich blue color.
- It is the world’s oldest known commercial gemstone sources.
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Quality
- Semitranslucent to opaque
- Mohs Hardness Scales: 5 - 6
Color
Finest Quality
- Violetish blue, medium to medium dark in tone, highly saturated
- No visible calcite, although it might have gold-colored pyrite flecks
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- Persian or Afghan: Intense, uniform, medium-dark, slightly violetish blue. Contains little or no pyrite, and no calcite.
- Russian or Siberian: Various tones and intensities of blue. Contains pyrite and might contain some calcite.
- Chilean: Often tinged or spotted with green, with obvious calcite matrix.
Cut
- Cabochons, beads, inlays, & tablets
- Frequently fashioned into freeform and nature-themed sculptures
Treatment
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Lapis might be dyed, impregnated with wax or plastic, or heated and then dyed.
Market
Afghanistan - the world’s major source of lapis lazuli as well as the major source of the gem’s best color.
The world market for lapis is steady, prices are low, and availability is good.
- “Nili”—the highest-quality lapis, with the best indigo color
- “Asmani”—a light blue lapis, much like the color of chambray denim
- “Sabzi”—a greenish lapis, sometimes confused with turquoise
Imitations
Glass, plastic, and ceramic materials have all been used as lapis imitations.
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