| LAPIS LAZULI
Lapis lazuli is a beautiful opaque gemstone which ideally has
a deep uniform blue color that is free of white calcite veining
and virtually free of golden pyrite flecks. It was prized by the
ancients who mistakenly called it "sapphirus" after its deep
royal blue color. Lapis is a very popular gemstone for men's
jewelry, second only to black onyx. For women, lapis is often
fashioned into earrings and beads, sometimes interspersed with
pearls or gold beads. Lapis is the accepted anniversary gemstone
for the ninth year of marriage. Lapis has been highly prized
since ancient Babylonian and Egyptian times. An amulet of
..great power" was formed when lapis was worked into the image
of an eye and ornamented with gold. Sometimes ft was even buried
with mummies. It was recognized as a symbol for ability,
success, and divine favor. To maintain the brilliance of lapis,
it should be wiped clean with a soft cloth. Do not use a home
ultrasonic machine. Care should be taken to protect it from
scratches, sharp blows and household chemicals. As part of the
fashioning process, lapis lazuli is commonly impregnated with
colorless wax or oil to brighten the color. The whiter variety
is commonly dyed blue to provide color and/or uniformity. This
dying may not be permanent. The prime source of lapis is
Afghanistan.
Far away in a remote area of
Afghanistan, lies Badakhshan, producer of the earliest records
of Lapis, and, some say, producer even of the sapphire tablets
of the bible which may well have been made of this material.
Badakhshan, some even say, was locality for the Garden of
Eden. As for those of you who will never rest till they know
how Lapis Lazuli got its name, I give you this tidbit of info.
There were, once, ancient mines from which this stone was
gleaned, and the name of those mines was Lazurd. Take that
name, and combine it with the Latin word for stone, which is
"lapis"...and voila!
It was the Bactrians who created and designed some of the
earliest inlays with Lapis, sliced flat and fixed into
brooches and earrings and sword hilts. It seems there was once
a brave and bold king by the name of King Humbaba, who had, in
a carefully guarded sanctuary, a rare and wondrous cedar tree
upon which grew precious stones. And the rarest of these
precious stones, which grew only on the topmost branches of
our mystical tree, was the Lapis Lazuli. And as a last little
bit of info, the mines in Badakhshan were only worked in
winter because the rock cracked more easily in the gem bearing
areas.
Alexander the Great, when returning from his forays in this
land of Badakhshan, helped spread the splendor of Lapis. The
Greeks and Romans used it to make a superior blue
paint...which they called "ultra-marine" because the
stone was imported from the other side of the seas. In the
Middle Ages, Monks used Lapis to create a rich pigment with
which to enhance the book binderies of their manuscripts. The
pigment was quite expensive, and became a mark of wealth when
a painting was commissioned specifying the use of Lapis
Lazuli. The Chinese of the day, as they traveled the cross
roads reaching into this land in order to trade for this
stone, called the Lapis the "dark blue gold stone,"
and they ground it into a paste which the used for painting
their eyebrows. This was clearly before the great cosmetic
firms, such as Loreal and Channel, came out with eye-shadow.
Symbol of the heavens; stone of Venus. The Romans believed
that lapis was a powerful aphrodisiac. In the Middle Ages, it
was thought to keep the limbs healthy and free the soul from
error, envy and fear. In medieval Europe, lapis was crushed to
produce the precious pigment known as ultramarine that was
used in many sacred paintings and manuscript illuminations.
Lapis lazuli is still mined at the deposits of the ancient
world in Afghanistan. Lapis is also mined in Chile. Small
quantities are also produced in Siberia, in Colorado in the
United States, and in Myanmar.
Lapis lazuli is somewhat porous and should be protected
from chemicals and solvents. Warm soapy water is the best way
to clean it. Lapis is not very hard at 5.5 and should be
protected from other jewelry when stored to avoid scratches.
oyal blue lapis lazuli, the gem
variety of lazurite and one of the most beautiful opaque
gemstones, is a sodium and aluminum mineral of considerable
complexity. Known as “sapphires” by the ancients, the stone
occurs in only a few major deposits around the world, notably
Lake Baikal in Siberia, Ocalle in Chile, and the rugged Kokcha
Valley of northern Afghanistan.
 The
ancient royal Sumerian tombs of Ur, located near the Euphrates
River in lower Iraq, contained more than 6000 beautifully
executed lapis lazuli statuettes of birds, deer, and rodents
as well as dishes, beads, and cylinder seals. These carved
artifacts undoubtedly came from material mined in northern
Afghanistan. Later Egyptian burial sites dating before 3000
B.C. contained thousands of jewelry items, many of lapis.
Powdered lapis was favored by Egyptian ladies as a cosmetic
eye shadow and in later years it was used as a pigment for
ultramarine paints. Pliny the Elder described the stone as “a
fragment of the starry firmament.”
The
most prized lapis is a dark, nearly blackish blue, much deeper
than turquoise and more intense than sodalite or azurite.
Lazurite occurs most frequently in lighter shades commonly
mixed with streaks of calcite. Although attractive, this
material is less desirable and consequently fetches a lower
price. Pyrite, a commonly associated mineral, is often
liberally sprinkled throughout lapis specimens, to create a
striking combination of rich blue and brassy gold.
Palagems.com Lapis
Lazuli Buying Guide
By
Richard W. Hughes
Introduction. Lapis lazuli is one of the oldest of all
gems, with a history stretching back some 7000 years or more.
This mineral is important not just as a gem, but also as a
pigment, for ultramarine is produced from crushed lapis lazuli
(this is why old paintings using ultramarine for their blue
pigments never fade).
Color.
For lapis lazuli, the finest color will be an even, intense
blue, lightly dusted with small flecks of golden pyrite. There
should be no white calcite veins visible to the naked eye and
the pyrite should be small in size. This is because the
inclusion of pyrite often produces discoloration at the edges
which is not so attractive. Stones which contain too much
calcite or pyrite are not as valuable.
Clarity. Lapis lazuli is essentially opaque to the naked
eye. However, fine stones should possess no cracks which might
lower durability.
Cut.
Lapis lazuli is cut similar to other ornamental stones.
Cabochons are common, as are flat polished slabs and beads.
Carvings and figurines are also common.
Prices.
Lapis lazuli is not an expensive stone, but truly fine material
is still rare. Lower grades may sell for less than $1 per carat,
while the superfine material may reach $100–150/ct. or more at
retail.
Stone
Sizes. Lapis lazuli may occur in multi-kilogram sized
pieces, but top-grade lapis of even 10–20 carats cut is rare.
Name.
The name lapis means stone. Lazuli is derived from the Persian
lazhward, meaning blue. This is also the root of
our word, azure.
Sources. The original locality for lapis lazuli is the
Sar-e-Sang deposit in Afghanistan’s remote Badakhshan district.
This mine is one of the oldest in the world, producing
continuously for over 7000 years. While other deposits of lapis
are known, none are of importance when compared with
Afghanistan. Lapis lazuli is also found in Chile, where the
material is heavily mottled with calcite. Small amounts are also
mined in Colorado, near Lake Baikal in Siberia, and in Burma’s
Mogok Stone Tract.
Enhancements. The most common enhancement for lapis
lazuli is dying (staining), where a stone with white calcite
inclusions is stained blue to improve the color. Other
enhancements commonly seen are waxing and resin impregnations,
again, to improve color. The color of stained lapis is unstable
and will fade with time. As with all precious stones, it is a
good practice to have any major purchases tested by a reputable
gem lab, such as the
GIA or
AGTA, to determine if a gem is enhanced.
Imitations. Sintered synthetic blue spinel was once used
as an imitation of lapis lazuli, but is rarely seen today.
So-called synthetic lapis lazuli (such as the Gilson product) is
more properly termed an imitation, since it does not match
exactly the structure and properties of the natural. It is found
in various forms, complete with pyrite specks (but all lacking
calcite). Various forms of glass and plastic are also commonly
seen as lapis imitations.
" Clarity "
lapis and denim lapis
Soul level healing is really about accessing that soul plan
and discovering why we are here. We can discover what we are
truly about and what memories are to be cleared before we can
move forward with our lives.
My work is based largely on crystals and stones that a client
selects. Together we review what information they suggest, and
learn what needs to be cleared, healed and otherwise
processed. The real work involved comes from the client, i.e.
issues about the past, present and future, what needs to be
done to make that process flow and create more balance and
harmony in this present life.
Soul level healing requires a great deal of effort and
self-examination on the part of each client. There are no
quick and easy answers. Healing is never up to the 'healer' -
Healers, rather, are only the facilitators for a client's own
healing process, which opens new possibilities for solutions.
Healing has become a great deal more than just feeling better
about oneself for a brief moment only to return to the same
issues and sufferings. Healing is more about healing the
spirit, healing the memories and the source of our imbalances.
And as we begin to heal our 'selves' we can begin to heal our
planet, for the earth only reflects what we think, feel and
how we walk.
Healing is a journey, a journey into our soul and the
complexities it holds. Enjoy the journey, it is why you are
here!
Chemical composition -- A compound of
sodium, calcium, aluminum, silicon, oxygen, and sulfur,
usually found as a rock mixture of lazurite, calcite, and
pyrite.
Color --Blue to violet-blue.
Optics -- R.I. 1.50.
Durability -- Hardness 5-6.
Crystal structure --
Isometric (cubic). Crystals are very rare and tiny. Usually
found as massive material mixed with pyrite and calcite.
Specific Gravity -- 2.38-2.9, depending on presence
of calcite and pyrite.
Sources -- The best source is in the
mountains of Afghanistan, where the mines have been dug for the
past 7,000 years! Poorer quality material is found in Chile and
other locations. Lapis occurs in huge sizes and has been widely
used for ornamental and architectural items as well as for
jewelr
Specs: (lazurite) Color: blue Hardness:
5-6 Specific Gravity: 2.4 - 2.9 Refractive Index: 1.50
Transparency: opaque Chemical Composition: (Na,Ca)8(Al,Si)12O24(SO4,S,Cl)
Cleavage: none |
