Lapis is considered a rock, not a mineral. It combines
various minerals, mostly lazurite, but also contains calcite (white), sodalite
(blue) and pyrite (fools’ gold, a metallic yellow) and to be considered a
mineral it would have only one component.
Top quality lapis lazuli comes from Afghanistan where is has
been mined for more than 6000 years, but is also found in Siberia, Chile, the
U.S., Pakistan, and Canada.
A strong blue, sometimes with a hint of violet, lapis lazuli’s
value decreases with the presence of white patches (calcite), while small veins
of pyrite are often prized.
The Egyptians used Lapis for seals, ground it for an eyelid
cosmetic and often carved it into vases and figurines.
A soft stone, 5 -5.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, lapis
lazuli is one of the most valuable semi opaque stones.