Blue Lapis Lazuli Round Beads

Gemstone: Lapis Lazuli
Size: Approximately 6mm, 8mm or 10mm
Strand Length (inches): 15.5″
Colour: Blue
Beads in Strand:
6mm – approx 63 Beads
8mm – approx 49 Beads
10mm – approx 38 Beads

Lapis lazuli is a precious gemstone most well-known for its bright blue color. It is formed when the minerals of lazurite, calcite, and pyrite meld together by heat within metamorphic rock. It is mostly found in Afghanistan, though the mining of the stone is destructive and very controversial. In ancient times, lapis lazuli was seen as a clear sign of wealth.

To form a Lapis lazuli stone there must be a mixture of three essential minerals: lazurite, calcite, and pyrite. The gemstones are found in metamorphic rocks that have variable compositions and physical properties. These minerals are often mixed together due to the magmatic heat flowing into other, cooler deposits of more abundant rocks, such as limestone, that Lazurite, Calcite, and Pyrite are found lying within.