Afghanite is a rare blue mineral found mainly in the same rocks that produce Afghanistan’s famous Lapis Lazuli. It forms long hexagonal crystals or fibrous blue patches inside white marble. It’s usually bright or royal blue, lighter than lazurite, and has a white streak. With a hardness of 5–6, it’s softer than quartz but still takes a decent polish. Afghanite forms in unusual, low-silica rocks that have been cooked by hot intruding magma and enriched with sulfur, chlorine, and carbonate. Because it’s rare and attractive, collectors value it highly—especially well-formed crystals from the Sar-e-Sang mines.

You can distinguish Afghanite from:

Lazurite:
Afghanite is usually lighter royal blue, more transparent
Lazurite is richer ultramarine with golden pyrite inclusions

Sodalite:
Afghanite forms hexagonal prisms, unlike sodalite (isometric)
Afghanite often shows fibrous habits

Hauyne:
Hauyne is typically more vivid ultramarine
Afghanite is less fluorescent and often zoned