PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:
Chemistry:
Lazulite (Mg,Fe)Al2 (Po4)2(OH)2
Scorzalite (Fe,Mg)Al2 (Po4)2(OH)2
Composition: Magnesium Iron Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide
Class: Magnesium Iron Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide
Group: Lazulite
Crystal System: monoclinic
Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 5.5 - 6
Specific Gravity: apx. 3.1
Refractive Index:
Pleochroism: strong
Luster: vitreous to dull
Streak: pale blue to white
Color: similar to an azurite or an indigo blue greenish blue to sky blue
Cleavage: distinct in one direction
Transparency: translucent to transparent
Associated Minerals: quartz, rutile, kyanite, andalusite, garnets, muscovite, corundum, wardite, brazilianite, siderite, pyrophyllite, dumortierite, wagnerite, svanbergite, berlinite (metamorphic) and beryl (pegmatites)

COMPOSITION:
Magnesium Iron Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide
32% AL2O3, 45% P2O5 and 5.5% H2O with remainder divided between MgO & FeO
Lazulite (Mg,Fe)Al2 (Po4)2(OH)2
Scorzalite (Fe,Mg)Al2 (Po4)2(OH)2

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
Lazulite is a phosphate-based mineral containing magnesium, iron, and aluminum phosphate. Formed at relatively low temperatures, the dark blue mineral is among the most valuable of semiprecious gemstones. It can be confused with lazurite , lapis or azurite. The beautiful azure-blue color that is seen in all three of these minerals makes them very desirable as ornamental stones and rare mineral specimens

Lazulite is in a solid solution series with the mineral scorzalite. A solid solution series is a set of two or more minerals that have a couple of elements that substitute freely for each other. The lazulite-scorzalite series ranges from the magnesium rich Lazulite to the iron rich scorzalite. The rarer scorzalite does not differ appreciably, except that it tends to be darker, less transparent and denser than Lazulite.
 
ENVIRONMENT:
Lazulite and scorzalite are high-temperature hydrothermal minerals found in limited occurrence in Pegmatite dikes, metamorphic rocks, and quartz veins in metamorphics.

CRYSTAL DESCRIPTION:
Crystals are more common than massive forms. The crystal forms include a dipyramidal form that comes close to looking like a distorted octahedron, usually flattened to the point of being a tabular crystal. Also small granular forms. Most crystals are dull. But some exceptional specimens can be quite spectacular.

TESTS:
crystals are only slightly soluble in warm hydrochloric acid. In the blowpipe flame they turn white to dark brown (depending on the iron content) crack open swell up and the pieces blow away.

LOCALITIES:
Crystals have been found invery few localities in Western Austria and Zermatt, Switzerland lazulite forms good blue crystals in quartz veins. Minas Gerias, Brazil; Lincoln Co., Georgia; Inyo Co., California and Yukon Territory, Canada. We have some nice specimens from Rapid Creek Yukon, Canada. Afghanistan is noted for having facet grade material.

Rapid Creek produces some of the finest lazulites ever found. These Lazulite specimens may have combinations of associated minerals including siderite, apatite, quartz and brazilianite. No new Lazulite specimens from this locality have been collected for the past few years.

USES:
Lazulite is most often used as ornamental stones and rare mineral specimens. Lazulite is not particularly abundant, especially in cuttable pieces. Fine quality pieces are rare, especially in sizes over a few carats. It can produce vivid, deep blue gems when found in suitable pieces. Clear gemmy crystals show strong pleochroism from yellowish to clear to blue.

FACTS & HISTORY:
Al Kulan was the prospector who discovered Canada's Faro ore body. He also discovered the gemstone Lazulite near the Blow River. A few years later, in 1975, Kulan presented several specimens of Lazulite to Yukon Commissioner James Smith. Smith knew that Lazulite was the only semiprecious gemstone of any size in the Yukon. On February 16, 1976, he proclaimed it the Yukon’s official gemstone. The first jewelry made from Yukon Lazulite was given to Madame Vanier, wife of the governor general. The name Lazulite comes from the Arabic word, lazu, which means “heaven.” According to an old legend, Lazulite was born out of a giant upheaval of the universe when pieces of sky and sunlight were captured and held by Mother Earth.