Lapis Lazuli polished block — Sar-e-sang, Afghanistan, 48 g

Description

This is a polished block of lapis lazuli cut into a compact rectangular form with flat faces and straight edges. The deep-blue body shows darker mottled patches and scattered metallic-looking sparkles across the surface, and the piece is shown held between fingers for scale. The block measures 3 × 2.3 × 2 cm and weighs 48 g. The faces are smoothly polished, emphasising the internal colour variation and the small reflective inclusions visible in the blue matrix. Lapis lazuli is a rock dominated by the blue mineral lazurite and commonly contains accessory minerals that can give metallic flashes or darker mottling. Sar-e-sang, Afghanistan, is a well-known source for deep-blue lapis material.