History & Legends
Lapis Lazuli with its deep azure blue colour and often flecked with golden pyrite inclusions, was treasured by the ancient Babylonians and Egyptians and often worn by royalty. Lapis lazuli was widely used by Egyptians for cosmetics and painting.
Persian legend says that the heavens owed their blue color to a massive slab of Lapis upon which the earth rested.
Lapis Lazuli was believed to be a sacred stone, buried with the dead to protect and guide them in the afterlife.
In the Americas, the Incas, Molles, Diaguitas and other pre-Columbian cultures have, for thousands of years, used lapis lazuli to ornament masks and other artifacts.
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Physical Properties
A relatively soft stone, with a hardness of around 5.5 on the Mohs scale, lapis lazuli is one of the most valuable semi opaque stones.
Often times referred to as a gem, this beautiful stone is technically a rock, consisting mostly of the minerals, lazurite and pyrite which makes up the golden specks. Lapis is formed by contact metamorphism which occurs deep below the earth's surface.
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For many people all over the world Lapis lazuli is considered a stone of universal truth and friendship. The blue stone is reputed to bring about harmony in relationships and to help its wearer being an authentic individual who may openly state his or her opinion. Lapis Lazuli is a powerful stone for those who seek spiritual development
The stone is mined from deposits located at 3600 meters above-sea-level in the Andes Mountains in the area of Ovalle, Chile. In 1851, the location of this deposit was mapped, and in 1894 Las Flores de Los Andes was officially registered as a mining property of Chile. 
Lapis lazuli is somewhat porous and should be protected from chemicals and solvents, never put Lapis in a chemical dip or ionic jewelry cleaner. 