Lapis lazuli has the oldest story of all gemstones used today. It has been mined in Afghanistan since at least 7000 BC. It is a combination of potentially many minerals but in order to be called Lapis lazuli, it must have a distinctive blue color and contain at least 25% lazurite. The most common companions to lazurite in lapis lazuli are white calcite and pyrite.
The most valuable specimens of lapis lazuli are mostly lazurite with very little to no calcite in them and the smallest amount of pyrite possible. The calcite can occasionally blend with the lazurite, creating a denim color, instead of the distinctive lazurite blue. Most lapis lazuli sold today has been dyed blue to hide the white calcite and then treated with wax to help seal the dyed calcite.
Lapis lazuli has been used for sculptures, jewelry, ceremonial, makeup, and as a pigment. Ultramarine, the pigment popular with Renaissance artists, was prized so highly that it was used in what was considered “luxury” paintings of the time. Van Goh’s “Starry Nights” features ultramarine heavily for it’s night sky.
Unfortunately, most of the lapis lazuli mines are controlled by the Taliban and other Islamic State groups in Afghanistan. The proceeds from these mines, according to various advocacy groups trying to get Afghan lapis lazuli classified as an international “conflict mineral”, are used to fund war and terrorism.
Lapis lazuli, being a third eye crystal, is known to heighten intuition, personal growth, psychic abilities, and wisdom. The journey to the inner self is greatly helped by working with lapis lazuli. Physically, it’s known to help with all manner of eye afflictions and to help menstruating ladies with menstrual pains.
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Planet: Saturn
Planet: Saturn