77mm LAPIS LAZULI retailer oval blue cabochon with golden pyrite markings 257cts

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Large Lapis Lazuli cabochon with leopard print markings ! 77mm

This piece of Lapis Lazuli is simply sensational.

With golden flecks of pyrite across the stone it is so beautiful.

Natural and untreated and organic, in these days of ecological awareness it is refreshing to know that such beautful feats of nature are totally unenhanced retailer by human kind.

This amazing piece measures 77mm by 54mm by 6mm deep.

Wear it as the most amazing centre piece - with gold.


LAPIS LAZULI HEALING PROPERTIES: Lapis Lazuli quickly releases stress, bringing us profound feelings of peace and security. It brings harmony and deep inner self-knowledge and encourages honest, clear and objective self-expression. Lapis Lazuli encourages creativity and inspires confidence. It bonds relationships, aiding in expression of feelings and emotions.

Lapis Lazuli can help overcome depression and low mood. Lapis Lazuli boosts the immune system, purifies blood, lowers blood pressure, cooling and soothing areas of inflammation. It alleviates insomnia and vertigo. Lapis Lazuli benefits the respiratory and nervous systems and the throat, vocal chords, and thyroid, cleanses organs, bone marrow and thymus.

LAPIS LAZULI GEMSTONE INFORMATION
Lapis lazuli is one of the few gemstones that is a rock rather than a mineral. It can consist of up to 15 minerals, but is mainly is a mixture of 3 main components: Lazurite, a complex mineral containing sulphur, is the essential ingredient and gives the vivid blue colour, the others are Hauyne and Sodalite. To varying degrees also Calcite, responsible for the white streaks in many specimens and Pyrite, an iron sulphide, gold/white in colour that gives the distinctive gold flecks.

Quality of Lapis Lazuli: Collectors look for a minimum of white calcite streaks, which in lower grade stones can give a lighter blue hue known as lapis matrix or ‘denim lapis'. Decorative and attractive gold flecks of pyrite are valued by collectors.

Fakes and enhancements of Lapis Lazuli: Synthetic Lapis has been produced since the 1950's. It is much harder than natural Lapis so can be easily distinguished. Also watch for cheaper priced perfectly coloured Lapis; it may be re-constituted in a similar way to turquoise. It can also be died and then waxed to improve the colour. It will still look very attractive, but the price should (but not in all cases) reflect the quality. Beware!

History of Lapis Lazuli: Many fine examples exist of Egyptian jewellery with Lapis set in gold, often in the popular scarab design. Historians believe that Cleopatra used powdered Lapis for eye shadow. The ancient royal Sumerian tombs of Ur, located near the Euphrates River in lower Iraq, contained more than 6,000 intricately carved Lapis Lazuli statuettes. Powdered Lapis was also the source for the blue pigment known as ultramarine, used by painters from the medieval period through the Renaissance. The name ‘lapis' is Parsi (Persian) for blue.

Care of Lapis Lazuli: A fairly soft and porous stone, protect it from solvents and chemicals. It is sensitive to pressure and high temperatures. Do not expose it to steam cleaners and always wipe off perspiration and perfume before storing. Warm soapy water is the best way to clean it.

Working with Lapis Lazuli: It is often identified by its strong smell, which indicates to professional cutters the potential depth of color. The stone has an uneven fracture and an imperfect cleavage; however the tight granular structure makes it ideal for carving or sawing. A versatile material for different surface polishes.
Location and deposits of Lapis Lazuli: The finest gems come from the Badakhshan province of northern Afghanistan, where it has been mined continuously for over 6,000 years. Other deposits have been found in Angola, Canada, Chile, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia and the United States.

Gemmology of Lapis Lazuli:
Colour: Lazur-blue, violet/blue.
Crystal form: Various as it is a rock.
Chemical composition:
Lazurite: (Na,CA)8(AlSiO4)6(SO4,S,Cl)2
Hauyne: (Na,CA)4-8(AlSiO4)6(SO4)1-2
Sodalite: Na8(AlSiO4)6Cl2
Calcite: CaCO3
Pyrite: FeS2
Lustre: Vitreous and greasy
Hardness: 5-5.5
Specific gravity: 2.38 – 3.00
Refractive index: 1.50 – 1.55