Lazulite
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Lazulite ((Mg,Fe2+)Al2(OH,PO4)2) is a blue, phosphate-based mineral containing magnesium, iron, and aluminium phosphate. Lazulite forms one endmember of a solid solution series with the darker iron rich scorzalite.
It forms by high grade metamorphism of high silica quartz rich rocks and in pegmatites. It is considered a semi-precious gemstone. It is often confused with lazurite, lapis lazuli or azurite.
Lazulite crystallizes in the monoclinic system with prismatic crystals, although it is usually massive in form. It has a Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6 and a specific gravity of 3.0 to 3.1. It is infusible and insoluble.
It is found in Salzburg, Austria; Zermatt, Switzerland; Minas Gerias, Brazil; Lincoln County, Georgia; Inyo County, California; and the Yukon in Canada.
It was first described in 1795 for deposits in Austria. Its name comes from the arabic for heaven.
[edit] References
- Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, Manual of Mineralogy, 20th ed., Wiley, ISBN 0-471-80580-7
- The Mineral Database
- Mineral Galleries
- Minerals-n-More
- Webmineral data
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