A feldspar that displays flashing colors known as labradorescence.

Afghan Lapis Lazuli is a metamorphic rock dominated by lazurite with calcite and pyrite. It has a deep ultramarine blue, light blue streak, hardness 5–5.5 Mohs, and SG ~2.7–2.9. Found in Sar-e-Sang, Afghanistan, it has been mined for over 6,000 years and historically valued for jewelry and as the source of ultramarine pigment.

Chilean Lapis Lazuli (Flor de los Andes, Ovalle, Chile) is a lazurite-rich metamorphic rock with more calcite and diopside than Afghan lapis, giving it a lighter, patchier blue with occasional green and minimal pyrite. It has a light blue streak, hardness 5–5.5 Mohs, and SG ~2.7–2.9. Although considered lower grade than Afghan material, it is important as Chile’s national stone and is widely used for carvings, ornaments, and decorative slabs.

Lazurite is a mineral of both aesthetic and historical importance, with its rich blue color contributing to the renowned beauty of lapis lazuli.