| Lapis Lazuli is a semi-precious stone with a beautiful blue color. It is a rock, not a mineral, meaning it is made up of more than one mineral: calcite (white), sodalite (blue) and pyrite (metallic yellow). The finest stones are from Afghanistan, and are an intense blue, lightly dusted with small flecks of golden pyrite. The presence of white calcite in the stone greatly devalues its value. |