What is Azure or Lazuli Lapis and its characteristics?

Do you love the colors of the night sky just before dawn breaks? You can capture that moment and hold onto it with lapis lazuli! Lapis lazuli, or lapis, is a rich blue gemstone with specks of gold and often white. To begin, let’s see what lapis lazuli is all about. Lapis lazuli is a lush, blue gemstone with specks of gold that glimmer along its surface. Were you born in September? Lapis lazuli is one of your birthstones! Is the traditional sapphire or peridot a little too flashy for you? Then you’ll love the unique, calm vibes of lapis lazuli. If you’re a Libra who’s more into chill vibes than the typical Luxe Libra Life, lapis lazuli is the perfect zodiac stone for you! The soothing blue hues have just enough sparkle to catch an eye or two. That means each planet gets their own star stone, too! Lapis lazuli’s planet is Saturn, which rules Capricorn. What’s more elegant than a wedding, though? As the traditional gemstone of the 9th wedding anniversary, a lapis lazuli ring is the perfect gift to celebrate your special someone. Lapis lazuli is not a mineral, but rather a metamorphic rock. The stone doesn’t have a consistent chemical composition, but a few minerals are always present. Lazurite must make up 25% or more of the stone for it to count as lapis lazuli. Pyrite and calcite are almost always present in lapis lazuli as well, giving the stone its gold and white colors, respectively. Other minerals that may be present include diopside, mica, and sodalite, to name a few. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, lapis lazuli can rank anywhere between 3 to 6. Let’s take a step away from the scientific elements to explore how different cultures have interpreted the lapis lazuli spiritual meaning. Lapis lazuli’s discovery occurred in an area called Lajevard. The ancient Egyptian lapis lazuli stone meaning corresponds to truth, as well as various deities. Judges in ancient Egypt wore lapis lazuli amulets carved with depictions of Ma’at, the goddess of truth. According to legend, the hair of the Egyptian sun god Re was made from lapis lazuli. In the myth, Inanna descends into the underworld adorned in a lapis lazuli necklace and rod. In certain sects of Christianity, lapis lazuli represents the Virgin Mary, Jesus’s mother. The modern lapis lazuli crystal meaning symbolizes truth, wisdom, and healing. Speaking of, what is lapis lazuli good for in terms of crystal healing?. As one of the blue gemstones, lapis lazuli crystal brings serenity, inspiration, and wisdom. Physically, lapis lazuli healing may help with relieving insomnia, inflammation, and throat problems. The emotional lapis lazuli benefits revolve around communication, both with ourselves and others. The lapis lazuli chakra belongs to the throat chakra. When lapis lazuli unblocks this chakra, we can access our deepest truth and share that truth to make meaningful change in our lives. Luckily, using lapis lazuli metaphysical properties can get us back on track. Meditating with lapis lazuli can clear away all the thoughts fogging up your brain, allowing you to evaluate what’s holding you back without judgment. Spiritually, lapis lazuli may provide insight and access to psychic abilities. For lapis lazuli, the important value factors are the stone’s color, clarity, cut, and treatments. Lapis lazuli color is the result of the minerals of its composition and plays the most important role in the stone’s quality. Among similar gems, lapis lazuli is the most sought-after opaque blue stone. This is partly true for lapis lazuli. As a non-transparent stone, lapis lazuli’s clarity grade is simply “Opaque. Techniques for cutting lapis lazuli began in ancient times. Tablets, inlays, mosaics, and various decorative objects were among the earliest lapis lazuli cuts. Nowadays, lapis lazuli most commonly becomes cabochons or beads to best display the color and matrix of inclusions. Cabochons and tumbled lapis lazuli stones are popular for use on their own or placed in jewelry. After the lapidarist cuts the lapis lazuli stone, some specimens are treated with blue dye. However, miners often uncover giant pieces of lapis lazuli rough. For instance, Afghanistan lapis lazuli rough can reach 500,000 carats!. Larger pieces of lapis lazuli are great for carvings, so it’s common to see intricate lapis lazuli figurines and decorative objects. Lapis lazuli’s story began in the Middle East, in the area now called the Arabic Peninsula. As far back as 7000 BC, mines around modern-day Afghanistan produced lapis lazuli stones. In ancient Egypt, lapis lazuli was a favorite gemstone, especially for making Scarabs. Lapis lazuli jewelry was popular among many nobles, who adorned themselves with protective amulets or talismans. Ever heard of Cleopatra? She used ground-up lapis lazuli and pyrite as eyeshadow, creating some iconic looks that caught the eye of leaders like Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. In the fourth row, lapis lazuli sits beside beryl and jasper. In Medieval Europe, lapis lazuli pigment paint showed up in Venice and artists scrambled to get their hands on it. But, how does lapis lazuli come about in the first place?. As we mentioned, lapis lazuli is a metamorphic rock. Most often, the stone forms inside marble that have gone through contact metamorphism. While marble or limestone goes through contact metamorphism, any lazurite inside replaces parts of the rock. Pyrite and calcite, along with other minerals, may mix in as well. The end result is lapis lazuli!. For hundreds of years, Afghanistan’s Badakhshan region was the only place that produced lapis lazuli. Is lapis lazuli expensive? Color plays a huge role in lapis lazuli price. Most jewelers prefer lapis lazuli stones without visible calcite inclusions, but many buyers enjoy these cloudy sky looking stones. The finest gem-quality lapis lazuli stones, which are rare, command higher prices that range from $14-$200 per carat. Luckily, most lapis lazuli stones are affordable! Even “AAA-grade” specimens are usually $1-$10 per carat. Lapis lazuli gemstones with more calcite used to get tossed aside. Since lapis lazuli stones vary in durability, be careful when cleaning and storing your gem. If your lapis lazuli has a wax or resin coating, it has better wearability but different sensitivities. For storage, keep your lapis lazuli gem separate from other gems to avoid scratches or breakage. Now you know everything about lapis lazuli, so congrats! It’s no wonder ancient and modern folks alike have fallen in love with this stone for centuries over. Who can resist the stunning blue of a bright lapis lazuli?.