Lazulite is a distinct magnesium aluminum phosphate mineral often found in brilliant azure blue hues within metamorphic environments. Collectors typically look for its sharp, well-formed monoclinic dipyramidal crystals, though it also occurs in granular or massive forms. It is frequently mistaken for lazurite, but lazulite is distinct due to its hardness and specific geological associations with kyanite and quartz.
Is this lazulite?
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 lazulite with a known reference. Lazulite sits at Mohs 5.5-6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Lazulite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Lazulite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: azure blue, blue, sky blue, violet blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: sharp dipyramidal crystals, granular, massive.
Often confused with
Lazulite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside lazulite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lazulite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MgAl₂(PO₄)₂(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 3.1-3.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Sharp Dipyramidal Crystals, Granular, Massive
- Cleavage
- Distinct in One Direction
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Rocks Like Quartzite and High-grade Schist
- Typical price
- $20-150 thumbnail, $200-800 cabinet specimen
Where rockhounds find lazulite
6 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Werfen, Austria
- Yukon, Canada
- Brazil
- Georgia, USA
- Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic rocks like quartzite and high-grade schist country — that is the host setting where lazulite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, kyanite, corundum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a sharp dipyramidal crystals, granular, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify lazulite?+
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How much is lazulite worth?+
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Find lazulite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
