Lapis lazuli

English
Lapis Lazuli

Origin
Afghanistan

Introduction
Lapis lazuli's chemical composition is a sodalite group mineral ((Na,Ca)₈(AlSiO₄)₆(SO₄,S,Cl)₂), often associated with calcite and pyrite. Its enchanting deep blue color with golden pyrite flecks, reminiscent of stars in the night sky, is also known as "celestite" or "qingdaiyu."

In Mesopotamia and Egypt during the 7th millennium BCE, lapis lazuli was considered the "incarnation of the sky" and was used for carvings, ornaments, and religious artifacts. Ancient Egyptians believed it could connect the will of humans and gods, thus it was used to create pharaoh masks and sacred objects. For example, Tutankhamun's golden mask is inlaid with lapis lazuli. In ancient China, during the Tang and Song dynasties, lapis lazuli was ground into powder and used as a pigment for murals and mineral paints, known as "treasure blue" or "ultramarine."