Lazurite

Unknown Owner

Lazurite is the mineral that gives lapis lazuli its blue colour, but as fine-grained intergrowths rather than discrete visible crystals. However, well-formed Lazurite crystals have occasionally been found at the lapis lazuli mines at Sar-e Sang in Kokscha Valley, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan. This small cabinet specimen features an extremely large (3.5 cm long) twinned Lazurite crystal perched upon the classic contrasting white 'marble' matrix. The Lazurite displays a very deep blue colour, is opaque, and has a quite dull lustre. The crystal is well-formed and stands prominently above the matrix, but there are a few uneven surfaces indicating minor damage during preparation exposing it from the enclosing matrix. Ex David Hardman collection.