Why do different Lapis stones have such differences in appearance?
There are three major sources of lapis around the globe. Afghanistan, South America, and Russia. Afghan lapis is the most valued stone. Marbled with gold-colored iron pyrite. Some pieces make high priced jewelry. South American lapis is generally laced with the mineral calcite. Its lite appearance distracts from its beauty and only a few stones can be used for jewelry. Russian lapis has virtually no inclusions and is generally a solid deep blue in its appearance. The designation of “lapis lazuli” only refers to color. Lazuli means blue.
