THE MINERAL LAZULITE
- Chemistry: (Mg, Fe)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2, Magnesium Iron Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide.
- Class: Phosphates
- Uses: Mineral specimens, ornamental stone and as a rare gemstone.
Specimens
Lazulite is in a solid solution series with the mineral scorzalite. A solid solution series is a set of two or more minerals that have a couple of elements that substitute freely for each other. The lazulite-scorzalite series ranges from the magnesium rich lazulite to the iron rich scorzalite. The rarer scorzalite does not differ appreciably, except that it tends to be darker, less transparent and denser than lazulite.
Lazulite is named from an Arabic word for heaven in allusion to its sky blue color. Crystals are more common than massive forms, but localities with gem grade crystals are scattered and scarce. The crystals can be well shaped and show a nice monoclinic dipyramidal to tabular form. Lazulite although most crystals are dull, some exceptional specimens can be quite spectacular.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Color is dark azure-blue to a bright indigo blue or even a pale sky blue.
- Luster is vitreous to dull.
- Transparency: Specimens are translucent to less commonly transparent.
- Crystal System: Monoclinic; 2/m
- Crystal Habits include a dipyramidal form that comes close to looking like a distorted octahedron, usually flattened to the point of being a tabular crystal. Also granular and massive.
- Cleavage is distinct in one direction.
- Fracture is uneven.
- Hardness is 5.5 - 6.
- Specific Gravity is approximately 3.1 (average for translucent minerals)
- Streak is pale blue to white.
- Other characteristics: Clear gemmy crystals show strong pleochroism (yellowish, clear, blue) and crystals are only slightly soluble in warm hydrochloric acid..
- Associated Minerals are quartz, rutile, kyanite, andalusite, garnets, muscovite, corundum, wardite, brazilianite and siderite.
- Notable Occurrences: Western Austria; Zermatt, Switzerland; Minas Gerias, Brazil; Lincoln Co., Georgia; Inyo Co., California and Yukon Territory, Canada.
- Best Field Indicators: color, poor reaction to acids, crystal habit, associations and localities.
 Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery MINERALS |
LAZULITE specimen laz-1
$ 60.00
$ 60.00
Dims: 2-1/8" x 1-5/8" x 5/8"
Wt: 2.25 oz
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
This is one beautiful piece! The Lazulite crystals reach a maximum length of about 1/4 inch, and are clean, free of internal flaws as well as can be seen, and are colored a brilliant dark blue! The crystals are flattened prisms, and are accented by a few small quartz crystals of high quality. This specimen is extremely beautiful, and needs a loving home!
laz-1 ($ 60.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-2
$ 48.00
$ 48.00
Dims: 1-3/4" x 7/8" x 7/8"
Wt: 21.8 g
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
Though not as large as other specimens, the crystals on this piece are no less spectacular in their color and form. Deep blue, seemingly opaque crystals of Lazulite cover one face of the host rock. There is noticeable damage where some of the crystals have been crushed, but most are in excellent form. A few minute but excellent crystals of quartz are on hand to lend contrast. A lovely specimen that could fit into a curio cabinet with some deft manipulation of the tacky clay that affixes the specimen to its acrylic base.
laz-2 ($ 48.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-3
$ 42.00
$ 42.00
Dims: 1.3" x 1.4" x 0.6"(3.3 x 3.6 x 1.5 cm)
Wt: 23.4 g
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
A dense druze of large Lazulite crystals coats the host rock on this Canadian specimen. The largest of these dark blue crystals attains dimensions of 0.4 x 0.3"(1.0 x 0.8 cm). A few of the crystals show noticeable damage, but most are undamaged. Only smaller crystals and those with large internal fractures will convect light, showing a dark blue color- the rest appear black. They all have a vitreous luster and rest on a very rust-stained host rock. The specimen is affixed to a flat acrylic base with a removable putty. These are some very pretty crystals, and some of the largest that I have seen yet.
laz-3 ($ 42.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-4
$ 20.00
$ 20.00
Although almost all the crystals on this specimen show some form of damage, their size makes them stand out! They attain maximum dimensions of 1/2 x 1/4(1.3 x 0.6 cm). They are all a dark blue color, though some areas show a very green tinge. The external damage along with many internal fractures give the otherwise black-looking crystals blue and green highlights from reflected light. There are at least 10 of these crystals on a rather dense host rock that looks like basalt. The specimen is affixed to a square acrylic base with a removable putty.
laz-4 ($ 20.00)
LAZULITE specimen laz-7
$ 105.00
$ 105.00
Dims: 1.6" x 1.0" x 0.6"(4.1 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm)
Wt:25.6 g w/ base
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
One of the finest specimens of Lazulite that I have seen, one side of this large thumbnail contains over 20 dark blue crystals. Their color is so dark that it is easy to see only near the specimen's edges, where internal fractures and breakage reflect light near the crystals's surfaces. A few of the crystals in the cluster are damaged, but most damage is limited to the specimen's edges. The crystals have a vitreous luster and measure about 0.3"(8 mm) in diameter on average. Among the Lazulites are two siderite crystals that have a pale brown color, pearly luster, and noticeable transparence; the larger measures 0.3 x 0.2"(8 x 5 mm), and the other has dimensions of 0.2 x 0.1"(5 x 3 mm). The opposite side of the specimen has scores of tiny Lazulite crystals whose color is much easier to see, and at least 20 equally tiny brown siderite crystals. The piece has been hot-glued onto a square acrylic base for display.
laz-7 ($105.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-8$ 150.00
Dims: 1.9" x 1.5" x 0.8"(4.8 x 3.8 x 2.0 cm)
Wt:1.39 oz.(25.6 g) w/ base
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
This Lazulite specimen has a higher number of large crystals than most that I have seen and a formation that is worthy of note. I estimate that there are at least 100 crystals on this specimen, ranging in size from 0.1 - 0.3"(3-8 mm) in width, showing surprisingly little damage. They are all a deep blue color with a slight hint of green(this color is so dark that the crystals appear black), have a vitreous luster, and are translucent. There are several small, transparent quartz crystals scattered on the specimen and a few small, brown, opaque siderite crystals concentrated in a few places. The Lazulite and quartz crystals formed in such a way as to create a small, rounded hollow that one can see about 0.7"(1.7 cm) into. It is a formation I have never seen before in specimens from this locality. There is no host rock- the specimen seems to be made up entirely of Lazulite, quartz, and siderite crystals. It has been hot-glued to a square acrylic base for display.
laz-8 ($150.00)Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-11
$ 75.00
$ 75.00
Dims: 1.3" x 1.2" x 0.9"(3.3 x 3.0 x 2.3 cm)
Wt:21.4 g w/ base
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
Though showing rather warped crystal form and considerable damage, this specimen houses the largest single Lazulite crystal that I have ever seen! It measures almost 0.6 x 0.4 x 0.3"(1.5 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm), and apart from a "ding" on one of its edges and a small amount of material missing from one end, it is in very good condition, and has the best crystal form of all of the Lazulites. All have a deep blue color that appears black, a vitreous luster, and are translucent. There are also a few trigonal prisms of siderite scattered among the Lazulites, with a brown-gold color, vitreous luster, and dim but noticeable transparence. Other than the siderite crystals, there is no other material that could be construed as a host. The specimen is hot-glued to an acrylic base.
laz-11 ($ 75.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-13
$ 195.00
$ 195.00
Dims: 2.3" x 1.6" x 0.7" (5.8 x 4.1 x 1.8 cm)
Wt: 1.87 oz. (53.0 g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
Though there is a substantial amount of damage to this specimen, it is still quite impressive. It consists of a thin, dark gray slab of igneous base rock on which rest at least 15 deep blue Lazulite crystals. A few of these crystals are obviously broken, but most are in excellent condition. They are very large- the smaller crystals in the cluster are the size of the larger crystals in most of our other available specimens, and the largest crystal has visible dimensions of 0.5 x 0.3 x 0.2" (1.3 x 0.8 x 0.5 cm). Their monoclinic form is rather warped due to considerable intergrowth, but their form is good, with well-defined edges and smooth faces that have a bright, vitreous luster. Their color is so dark that only a few of the crystals show a dim translucence. There is a thin bed of tiny, pale brown siderite crystals at the base of some of the Lazulites, and two small, clear quartz crystals erupt from it.
laz-13 ($195.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-14
$ 135.00
$ 135.00
Dims: 2.3" x 1.1" x 1.1" (5.8 x 2.8 x 2.8 cm)
Wt: 1.35 oz. (38.3 g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
This large thumbnail specimen consists of a profusion of intergrown quartz, siderite, and Lazulite crystals. The Lazulite crystals do not exceed 0.3" (8 mm) in any dimension and are generally in good condition, though some of them are obviously damaged. They have the standard deep blue color and vitreous luster of crystals from this locality, and are only dimly translucent in some areas, due to the depth of their color. The siderites are extremely small and mostly covered over by the quartz crystals, which show excellent form and are transparent and very clear.
laz-14 ($135.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-15
$ 34.00
$ 34.00
Dims: 1.4 x 1.2 x 0.9" (3.5 x 3.2 x 2.2 cm)
Wt: 1.24 oz. (35.1 g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
This thumbnail specimen consists of a cluster of heavily-intergrown Lazulite crystals that rest on a basalt base. The crystals are in moderately good condition, as several are damaged, and have a very warped triclinic form, likely due to their intense intergrowth. All have the classic deep, azure-blue color that renders them nearly opaque and a bright, vitreous luster.
laz-15 ($ 34.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-16
$ 38.00
$ 38.00
Dims: 1.8 x 1.4 x 1.2" (4.6 x 3.4 x 3.1 cm)
Wt: 1.20 oz. (34.0 g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
Several nearly tabular Lazulite crystals rest on the quartz base of this large thumbnail specimen. These crystals do not exceed 0.3" (8 mm) in diameter and are generally in very good condition, showing little damage. Their triclinic form is unusual but good, and all have the classic, deep azure-blue color of their species. Their luster is bright and vitreous, and their deep color renders them only translucent. A few small, golden siderite crystals also rest on the quartz base, which is actually made up of scores of small, well-formed crystals. The piece is affixed to an acrylic base with a removable putty.
laz-16 ($ 38.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-17
$ 70.00
$ 70.00
Dims: 1.4 x 1.2 x 0.7" (3.5 x 3.1 x 1.8 cm)
Wt: 1.09 oz. (31.0 g) w/ base
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
This small hand specimen consists of a cluster of Lazulite crystals that are scattered among a crust of crystalline siderite. The Lazurites are not very large, reaching lengths of 0.3" (8 mm) and are in moderately good condition, as most are at least lightly damaged. Their monoclinic form is somewhat warped due to intergrowth with each other and with the siderite, and all have a very deep blue color with a hint of green and a vitreous luster. The intense coloration renders them nearly opaque, though they are translucent at their edges. The siderites are quite numerous and are in good condition, showing widespread but light damage. Their rhombic form is excellent. The piece is hot-glued onto an acrylic base.
laz-17 ($ 70.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-18
$ 65.00
$ 65.00
Dims: 1.8 x 1.5 x 1.5" (4.6 x 3.8 x 3.8 cm)
Wt: 2.24 oz. (63.7 g)
Cross Cut Creek, Yukon, Canada
At least 20 bladed Lazulite crystals rest on the quartz base of this specimen. It appears that over 50% of the crystals are damaged to some degree- however, those that are intact measure up to 0.3" (8 mm) long and have a common monoclinic form that looks somewhat like flattened and warped octahedra. All have a deep, azure-blue color with a hint of green and a bright pearly luster, and are dimly transparent at best due to their depth of color. They are accompanied by several well-formed siderite rhombohedra, and the quartz base is made up of 3 "tiers", off of which extend scores of tiny prismatic crystals.
laz-18 ($ 65.00)
Cross Cut Creek, Yukon, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-19
$ 110.00
$ 110.00
Dims: 1.8 x 1.7 x 1.0" (4.6 x 4.4 x 2.6 cm)
Wt: 2.04 oz. (57.8 g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
At least 20 Lazulite blades rest on the gray base rock of this hand specimen. These crystals are in very good condition, showing little damage, and have good monoclinic form. They have the standard deep azure-blue color with a slightly greenish tinge and a vitreous luster, and are transparent but so dark as to be rendered translucent even in bright sunlight. They rest on a bed of tiny arrojadite and siderite crystals and are accompanied by several very small quartz prisms.
laz-19 ($110.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-20
$ 38.00
$ 38.00
Dims: 2.7x1.8x1.1" (6.9x4.6x2.7 cm)
Wt: 3.3 oz. (93.5g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
This small hand specimen of Lazulite is quite nice, the crystals, while small, are a perfect deep blue color and are transparent. Hundreds of them rest upon a base of some unidentified rock which is colored blue by more lazulite, and appears to also include veins of massive lazulite.
laz-20 ($ 38.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-21
$ 38.00
$ 38.00
Dims: 2.12x0.96x0.74" (5.39x2.45x1.88cm)
Wt: 0.84oz (23.9g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
This specimen is motly deep aqua-blue crystals of lazulite. They are very dark, but the smaller crystals are clearly transparent, and all have a vitreous luster. There are also many colorless transparent quartz crystals (their bases are milky).
laz-21 ($ 38.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-22
$ 53.00
$ 53.00
Dims: 1.40x0.97x0.75" (3.56x2.46x1.90cm)
Wt: 0.75oz (21.2g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
This is a very interesting lazulite specimen, especially when examined using a loupe. To the bare eye, the specimen (shaped rather like a stallactite) is covered with very dark blue lazulite crystals that look nearly black. There is a scattering of golden brown crystals, and one side is covered with a quartz druze. Under a loupe, the colors of the lazulite are wonderful, with the crystals appearing transparent with a vitreous luster. Some crystals (especially the few showing fractures) display pleochroism, evident by a range of colors including greens and even yellow. The golden crystals are revealed as classic dipyramids of wardite, and the quartz "druse" resolves into a forest of incredibly transparent tiny prismatic crystals. Also, a blue-white patch that I thought was damage turns out to have a coating of clear quartz crystals. WHile there is damage to the specimen, it is primarily fractures to the lazulite crystals that don't affect the overall color or appearance.
laz-22 ($ 53.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
LAZULITE specimen laz-23
$ 75.00
$ 75.00
dims mm=45.73x24.58x9.81
wt g=16.7
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
The two sides of this specimen are very different. The dark side consists entirely of very dark blue lazulite crystals, many of which have excellent form. They are so dark that they appear nearly black except where internal fractures or other flaws reveal their lovely blue color. The other side is mostly brown transparent siderite crystals, with a scattering of quartz and crusts of blue lazulite.
laz-23 ($ 75.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada