2" Natural Blue Lapis Lazuli Worry Palm Stone Pyrite Crystal Calcite Mineral
Location: Afghanistan
Weight: 1.3 Ounces
Dimensions: 2 Inches Long, 1.6 Inches Wide, 0.4 Inches Thick
The item pictured is one you will receive.
Hardness: 5.5
Lapis Lazuli is a complex composite of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite, distinctively excluding lazurite despite common misconceptions. The name, meaning "blue stone" in Latin and Persian or Arabic, reflects its enduring allure across millennia. Esteemed by ancient civilizations including Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome, it was prized for its rich, captivating hue, rivaling the elegance of sapphire and turquoise. This exquisite mineral originates from the stark, mountainous region of Badakhshan in modern-day Afghanistan, where its deep azure beauty is meticulously sought amidst formidable peaks rising to 17,000 feet.
Way back in 700 BC, when the land was called Bactria, those lapis mines were already hard at work—and guess what? They're still going strong today! These mines hold the title of the world’s oldest known source for commercial gemstones. Brave merchant caravans hauled their dazzling blue treasures across Bactria, delivering them to the bustling cities of ancient Greeks, Indians, Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and Persians. Even Marco Polo mentioned these legendary mines in 1271, though, with their tough, remote terrain, not many outsiders have had the chance to sneak a peek!
