Lapis lazuli is a metamorphic rock composed primarily of the mineral lazurite, usually accompanied by white calcite and brassy pyrite inclusions. Collectors prize it for its intense, deep blue color, which has been used as a pigment and gemstone for thousands of years. It is typically found in massive, non-crystalline forms within contact-metamorphosed limestone deposits.
Is this lapis lazuli?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch lapis lazuli with a known reference. Lapis Lazuli sits at Mohs 5-5.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Lapis Lazuli leaves a light blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Lapis Lazuli typically shows a dull to vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, deep blue, ultramarine.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Lapis Lazuli vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Lapis Lazuli leaves light blue, Sodalite leaves white; luster reads dull to vitreous on Lapis Lazuli and vitreous on Sodalite.
How to tell apart: Dumortierite is the harder of the two (Mohs 7-8.5 vs. 5-5.5); streak differs — Lapis Lazuli leaves light blue, Dumortierite leaves white; luster reads dull to vitreous on Lapis Lazuli and vitreous on Dumortierite.
How to tell apart: Lapis Lazuli is noticeably harder (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 3.5-4); luster reads dull to vitreous on Lapis Lazuli and vitreous to dull on Azurite.
Often found alongside lapis lazuli
Minerals reported to co-occur with lapis lazuli. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 5-5.5
- Density
- 2.4-2.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light Blue
- Luster
- Dull to Vitreous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Decorative, Lapidary, Jewelry, Pigment
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Limestone (skarn)
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find lapis lazuli
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Sar-e-Sang, Afghanistan
- Ovalle, Chile
- Lake Baikal, Russia
- Mancos, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed limestone (skarn) country — that is the host setting where lapis lazuli typically forms. If you start seeing lazurite, calcite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Colorado — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find lapis lazuli on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
