Lapis Lazuli necklace
Lapis lazuli is an opaque, medium to deep blue gemstone with scattered flecks of yellow pyrites. Deep blue is the most prized color. Lapis lazuli's presence in ancient burial sites indicates that it has been a popular gemstone for thousands of years.
Deposit locations
There are deposits of lapis lazuli all over the world. The highest quality specimens come from Hindu Kush in North-east Afghanistan. Deposits are also located in Russia, Chile, Italy, the United States and other places.
Hardness
The hardness rating on Moh's scale of mineral hardness ranges between five and six. Ten is the hardest and one is the softest. The rating depends on the composition of the individual rock. It is porous and easy to fracture. Because of this softness, the stone can be difficult to cut and polish
Semiprecious
Lapis lazuli is a semiprecious stone, and exceptional specimens may command high prices.
Paint
To get a rich blue for their pigments artists ground up the stone and mixed it in their pigments to get a bright rich blue for their paintings
Uses
Lapis lazuli use in jewelry is mostly for necklaces, pendants and bracelets. A popular use is to carve the stone into statues and vases. In the past lapis lazuli has been ground up and used for medical purposes and cosmetics.
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