LAPIS LAZULI CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
• Hardness: 5-6
• Crystal System: Isometric
• Composition: Sodium Aluminum Silicate
What is Lapis Lazuli? Lapis Lazuli is commonly formed in crystalline limestones (mainly lazurite) through contact metamorphism. Composed primarily of lazurite, Lapis Lazuli also includes sodium, aluminum, silicon, oxygen, sulfur, chloride, and pyrite. The blue color of the gemstone comes from the sulphur content. The best quality Lapis Lazuli contains less calcite and pyrite and possess a deeper blue coloration. This stone can be found in Russia, Chile, Italy, and Afghanistan, which carries the finest specimens.
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LAPIS LAZULI HISTORY & ORIGIN
With one of the longest histories of human excavation and use in the gemstone world, Lapis Lazuli has been highly esteemed since as early as 4,000 B.C. in ancient Sumeria, Babylonia, and Egypt. Tucked away in the northeastern corner of modern-day Badakhshan province in Afghanistan is home to some of the most treacherous mountain ranges in the region. And hidden in the valleys of these mountain ranges are the Lapis Lazuli mines where the first of these stones were extracted and shared with the world. Forbidden to commoners and reserved specifically for royalty, Lapis Lazuli was called the "stone of rulers" in ancient Sumeria and Egypt. This revered stone was crafted into sculptures, amulets, beads, pendants, and other jewelry and were buried alongside kings and queens. In fact, over 6,000 crafted pieces of jewelry and statuettes were found in the ancient royal Sumerian tombs of Ur and the golden sarcophagus of King Tutankhamen is decorated with Lapis, as were the burial adornments of other Egyptian kings and queens. The word Lapis came from Latin, meaning stone, and the word Lazuli came from the Persian word Lazhuward, which means "blue". Taken together, Lapis Lazuli means "blue stone."
LAPIS LAZULI METAPHYSICAL & HEALING PROPERTIES
• Birthstone: December / Sagittarius
• Chakras: Throat (5th), Third Eye (6th), and Crown (7th)
Utilized by ancient kings and queens, the high-vibrational energies of Lapis Lazuli calls forth the inner 'king' or 'queen' that lies within each of us. It is a powerful thought amplifier and stimulates the higher mental faculties to assist us in our journey to awakening the inner Divine self. Elevating the psychic and metaphysical abilities, Lapis Lazuli allows one to raise his or her intuition and to gain access to the Akashic records. Working on the throat chakra, Lapis Lazuli is considered a stone of truth and aids in speaking the truth in all situations. By cleansing the body of old karmic patterns and encouraging one to express his or her own opinions, Lapis Lazuli assists one to move out of the mundane mind and into an expanded awareness of one's own motivations and belief patterns. This ultimately leads to higher intellectual ability, creativity and spiritual development. For those on the path as a spiritual seeker or student, Lapis Lazuli is a great ally for stimulating one's passion for attaining cosmic knowledge and understanding. It is used to help alleviate insomnia, vision, and hearing problems. It is also helpful in treating disorders of the throat, lungs, thymus, bone marrow, and immune system. It encourages honesty, compassion, and integrity and bonds people together in love and friendship while dissipating cruelty, martyrdom, and self-deception.
