Lapis Photos
Cochise College
Photos of Gemstones
Translucent Gemstones
Virtual Geology Museum
Hall of Gemstones
Geology Home Page
Roger Weller, geology instructor
Lapis Photos
Lapis
last edited:
1/27/08
number of photos: 29
Lapis is the mineral, lapis lazuli,
3NaAlSiO4.Na2S
hardness: 5 to 6
lapis
lazuli as a mineral
cabochons
lapis cabochons:
A
B
lapis in jewelry
lapis beads:
A
lapis necklace:
A
lapis, uncut
rough lapis, dry:
A
rough lapis, wet:
A*
B*
C*
lapis, tumbled:
A
B
C
lapis, polished specimens from Afghanistan:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
lapis from Chile:
A
Photos are copyright free for
non-commercial educational uses.
Just credit photos to R.Weller/Cochise
College.
copyright 2007-R.Weller
Information on Lapis
The full correct
name for lapis is lapis lazuli. It is a metamorphic material that is
created when an impure limestone is baked by contact with a granite intrusion.
Surprisingly,
lapis is a combination of four minerals: hauynite, sodalite, noselite, and
lazurite with minor
inclusions of pyrite (yellow metallic specks) and calcite (white). The most
desirable lapis has
a dark, rich blue color with minimal pyrite. Most lapis comes from the
Badakshan district in
northeastern Afghanistan.