Lazurite (excellent crystals)

Item Description

Lazurite is a feldspathoid species, meaning it's a rock-forming mineral containing an alkali (sodium, potassium, or calcium), but they lack the appropriate amount of silica to form feldspar. Lazurite has had quite a ride over the last several years in terms of its validity as a species. For a long time, Lazurite was a valid species, and then several years ago it was discredited, and then being classified as a sulfide-bearing variety of Hauyne. Thankfully in 2021, Lazurite has been reinstated, so we can now resume labeling all of our Lazurite specimens accurately. With that said, the specimens from Afghanistan are the best and most well-known examples of Lazurite in the world. They have been known for thousands of years, and the material is blue part of the stone Lapis Lazuli. This piece features a predominant, good sized, very sharp, notably well-formed, dodecahedron of deep royal blue Lazurite measuring 4.2 cm, with several other accessory Lazurite crystals sitting on matrix. It is incredibly difficult to find large, attractive crystals such as this from any world locality, and without question the finest examples of Lazurite have been found at Ladjuar Medam. The piece is not repaired, and the Lazurite crystals are undamaged, save the periphery where the piece was removed from the pocket wall. For the size, the main crystal on this piece is very sharp, which is important to note as most crystals from this locality end up rather distorted or "lumpy" when they get this size. A wonderful example of this classic and fine quality material from Afghanistan. Originally priced in the inventory at $3,500.