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Dominant species
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Lazulite
Lazulite
Chemical
Formula
(Mg,Fe2+)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2
Species
Phosphates
Crystal
System
Monoclinic
Mohs
Scale
5-6
Specific
Gravity
3.122-3.240
Color
Azure-blue, sky-blue, bluish white, yellow-green, blue-green, rarely green
Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous
Refractive
Index
n = 1.604 - 1.626 n = 1.626 - 1.654 n = 1.637 - 1.663
Diaphaneity
Transparent, Translucent
Cleavage
Poor/IndistinctPoor to good Indistinct on
Fracture
Irregular/Uneven, Splintery
Crystal Habit:Tabular, acute to stubby bipyramidal crystals; granular, massive
Geological Setting:In metamorphic rocks, border zones of complex granitic pegmatites, alluvial deposits.
Lazulite ((Mg,Fe2+)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2) is a blue, phosphate mineral containing magnesium, iron, and aluminium phosphate. Lazulite forms one endmember of a solid solution series with the darker iron rich scorzalite.

Lazulite crystallizes in the monoclinic system. Crystal habits include steep bipyramidal or wedge-shaped crystals. Lazulite has a Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6 and a specific gravity of 3.0 to 3.1. It is infusible and insoluble.

Occurrence and discovery

It forms by high grade metamorphism of high silica quartz rich rocks and in pegmatites. It occurs in association with quartz, andalusite, rutile, kyanite, corundum, muscovite, pyrophyllite, dumortierite, wagnerite, svanbergite and berlinite in metamorphic terrains; and with albite, quartz, muscovite, tourmaline and beryl in pegmatites. It may be confused with lazurite, lapis lazuli or azurite.

It is found in Salzburg, Austria; Zermatt, Switzerland; Minas Gerais, Brazil; Lincoln County, Georgia; Inyo County, California; the Yukon in Canada, and elsewhere.

It was first described in 1795 for deposits in Styria, Austria. Its name comes from the German lazurstein, for blue stone or from the Arabic for heaven.