Guest Post: Lapis Lazuli
This is a guest post by http://expressivebelieveablecharacters.tumblr.com a wonderful blog that is about character expressions in art and animation
Guest Blog Post
In this post I will actually be switching topics to Mineralogy as a guest blog post for http://subsolidus.tumblr.com/ and write about the gemstone Lapis Lazuli.
Lapis Lazuli is a gemstone of a opaque blue color popular for its color. In its natural rock form, it is composed of mainly Lazurite, and also white colored Calcite and brass colored Pyrite. The name Lapis Lazuli comes from “lapis” being Latin for “stone”, and “azula” being Arabic meaning “blue”.
Location(s):
It is most commonly found and mined in Afghanistan, which has been a major source of finding Lapis Lazuli for a long time. It can also be found in Russia and Chile. Small amounts of the rock can even be found in the US.
Uses:
Lapis Lazuli is commonly used for jewelry such as bracelets, beads, and necklaces. It can also be carved for sculptures in art. Because the ultramarine color of Lapis Lazuli used to be considered uncommon and rare, the gemstone was considered highly valuable, rare, and expensive.
Lazurite is the mineral that makes up most of the gem stone Lapis Lazuli. Lazurite shares the same chemical formula as Hauyne, but is set apart with its dominance in containing Sulfide.
Chemical formula of Lazurite:
(Minerals.Net, 2015)
References:
http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14
http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/lapis_lazuli_gemstone.aspx
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/lazurite.aspx