The facts
What lazulite actually is
Lazulite is classified as lazulite–scorzalite series, with the composition MgAl₂(PO₄)₂(OH)₂. It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Colour comes from fe²⁺ with Fe²⁺–Fe³⁺ interactions giving the deep azure to indigo blue; strongly pleochroic blue to colourless, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.604–1.637. Specific gravity around 3.08–3.12. Cleavage: indistinct {110}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where lazulite comes from
Lazulite is produced at Rapid Creek and Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada, Graves Mountain, Lincoln County, Georgia, USA, Werfen, Salzburg, Austria (type locality) and Serra do Espinhaço, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How lazulite is treated
Untreated. Strong pleochroism means an ill-oriented stone looks washed out; well-oriented Yukon crystals are the most desirable. Should not be confused with lazurite (the blue mineral of lapis lazuli), despite the near-identical name.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What lazulite is confused with
In the trade lazulite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Lazurite/lapis lazuli, Azurite, Sodalite or Dumortierite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.604–1.637 and specific gravity 3.08–3.12 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What lazulite is used for
Demand for lazulite comes from mineral collecting and jewellery, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the carat.
Durability and care
Lazulite is 5.5–6 on the Mohs scale, with indistinct {110} cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What lazulite costs
As a guide, lazulite trades around Faceted stones $80–$400/ct; fine Yukon crystals $100–$5,000.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is lazulite treated, and how?
Untreated. Strong pleochroism means an ill-oriented stone looks washed out; well-oriented Yukon crystals are the most desirable. Should not be confused with lazurite (the blue mineral of lapis lazuli), despite the near-identical name.
Where does lazulite come from?
Rapid Creek and Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada, Graves Mountain, Lincoln County, Georgia, USA, Werfen, Salzburg, Austria (type locality) and Serra do Espinhaço, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is lazulite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 5.5–6 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does lazulite cost?
Indicatively Faceted stones $80–$400/ct; fine Yukon crystals $100–$5,000. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is lazulite confused with?
Most often Lazurite/lapis lazuli, Azurite, Sodalite and Dumortierite. A refractive index of 1.604–1.637 and a specific gravity near 3.08–3.12 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for lazulite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about lazulite