Lazurite

Item Description

Lazurite is not often found in distinct isolated crystals on matrix. Even the excellent and well-known examples from Afghanistan are not always terribly sharp and well-formed. These beautiful crystals have been mined for thousands of years, but weren't always identified as a mineral species, as they were a component of the stone Lapis Lazuli. The earliest reference I can find for Lazurite dates back to 1869 according to mindat.org, but the material has been known for literally thousands of years. This piece features a good sized, fairly sharp, well-formed dodecahedron of dark blue Lazurite measuring 3.1 cm across aesthetically sitting on marble matrix. It should be noted that over the last several years, Lazurite was discredited as a valid mineral species, and was being classified as a sulfide-bearing variety of Hauyne. Thankfully in 2021, Lazurite was reinstated, so we can now resume labeling all of our Lazurite specimens accurately. It is incredibly difficult to find large, attractive, isolated crystals such as this from any world locality. The piece is not repaired, and I can't see any damage to the main Lazurite, but it does have some hollow / indented areas of interrupted growth, where the marble actually penetrated the crystal. A very nice example of this classic and fine quality material from Afghanistan. From the worldwide mineral collection of geologist, Demetrius Pohl (#0910).