Lazurite is the essential blue component of the ornamental stone known as Lapis Lazuli. It typically appears as deep blue, granular masses within marble and is frequently accompanied by glittering flecks of pyrite and white calcite inclusions.
Is this lazurite?
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 lazurite with a known reference. Lazurite 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. Lazurite leaves a light blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Lazurite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, azure, violet-blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: isometric. Typical habit: dodecahedral crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Lazurite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Lazurite leaves light blue, Sodalite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Lazurite leaves light blue, Hauyne leaves white.
How to tell apart: Lazurite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 3.5-4); luster reads vitreous on Lazurite and vitreous to dull on Azurite.
Often found alongside lazurite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lazurite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,Ca)₈(AlSiO₄)₆(S,SO₄,Cl)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5-5.5
- Density
- 2.38-2.45 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light Blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Isometric
- Crystal habit
- Dodecahedral Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Indistinct
- Fluorescence
- Orange Under LW UV
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Gemstone, Lapidary, Decorative, Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Limestone or Marble
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen depending on matrix and pyrite inclusion density
Where rockhounds find lazurite
Classic worldwide localities
- Badakhshan, Afghanistan
- Ovalle, Chile
- Lake Baikal, Russia
- San Bernardino County, USA
- Baffin Island, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed limestone or marble country — that is the host setting where lazurite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, pyrite, diopside in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a dodecahedral crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lazurite?+
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How much is lazurite worth?+
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Find lazurite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
