After posting a picture of some new material that was recently acquired, several e-mails were received with information that one of the stones had been misidentified. Misidentification is a very easy thing to do, but one must also remember that the same exact stone may be called one thing in one place and a totally different name someplace else, with all names being correct. Thus we have what are called Varieties, Trade Names and Misnomers..
The stone in the picture was identified as Afgan Lazurite Quartz. Now the mineralogy world says this about Lazurite. 'Lazurite is a popular but generally expensive mineral. Well-formed, deep blue crystals are rare and valuable. It is found combined with other minerals, most commonly combined into a rock called Lapis Lazuli, as shown in the second picture. Lapis Lazuli or Lapis for short is mostly made up of Lazurite, but commonly contains Pyrite. Lazurite can also contain Calcite and is sometimes mixed with various colors of Quartz.'
The stone in the picture was identified as Afgan Lazurite Quartz. Now the mineralogy world says this about Lazurite. 'Lazurite is a popular but generally expensive mineral. Well-formed, deep blue crystals are rare and valuable. It is found combined with other minerals, most commonly combined into a rock called Lapis Lazuli, as shown in the second picture. Lapis Lazuli or Lapis for short is mostly made up of Lazurite, but commonly contains Pyrite. Lazurite can also contain Calcite and is sometimes mixed with various colors of Quartz.'
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The name means "blue rock" and it is always a brilliant blue with violet or greenish tints. The rich blue color is due to the sulfur that is inherent in the structure of Lazurite. Small crystals of Pyrite are always present in Lapis and their brassy yellow color is both attractive and diagnostic in distinguishing lapis from its also blue cousin - Sodalite, which lacks Pyrite. The Calcite produces white streaks in the Lapis, thus forming a multi-col
ored stone many times also containing pieces of various colored Quartz, as seen in the first picture. This particular pendant could be call Quartz, Calcite or Lazurite, maybe even Granite or Marble, because all are present. But since the Lazurite is the rarest of the minerals present, it is being referred to as a Lazurite Pendant. Since it happens to be known where it also came from, the name Afgan is added to its identification.
The name means "blue rock" and it is always a brilliant blue with violet or greenish tints. The rich blue color is due to the sulfur that is inherent in the structure of Lazurite. Small crystals of Pyrite are always present in Lapis and their brassy yellow color is both attractive and diagnostic in distinguishing lapis from its also blue cousin - Sodalite, which lacks Pyrite. The Calcite produces white streaks in the Lapis, thus forming a multi-col
ored stone many times also containing pieces of various colored Quartz, as seen in the first picture. This particular pendant could be call Quartz, Calcite or Lazurite, maybe even Granite or Marble, because all are present. But since the Lazurite is the rarest of the minerals present, it is being referred to as a Lazurite Pendant. Since it happens to be known where it also came from, the name Afgan is added to its identification..
Just for comparison purposes, the small carved cross is Sodalite. To really keep one on their toes when looking for or shopping for specific stones, here is a partial listing of the names that Lazurite goes by ---- Lapis Lazuli, Afgan Lapis, Chilean Lapis, California Lazuli, Lasurite, Persian Lapis, Russian Lapis, Sapphiros of Phiny, Siberian Lazuli, Ultramarine Pigment, Canadian Lapis, German Lapis, Hackmanite, Sodalite, Ditroite. Many of these 'variety' names are based on the amount of Lazurite and other minerals also present in the specimen.
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No matter what the name, fantastic and unique pieces of jewelry can be made out of this material, and look great in combination with other gemstones.
Afgan Lazurite Quartz Pendant with Jade and Copper
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