Lazurite

specimen number:
2072166

location:
Sar-e-Sang, Koksha, Badakhshan, Afghanistan

description:

Classic sharp deep blue crystals of lazurite measuring to 2.5 cm in size on matrix with pyrite. In good condition.

The Sar-e-Sang district is located in the remote Kokcha Valley of the Badakhshan Province in northeastern Afghanistan, representing the most famous source of lapis lazuli in human history. Geologically, the deposit is a series of lens-shaped bodies hosted within ancient Precambrian marble and gneiss that underwent intense contact metamorphism approximately 2.4 to 2.7 billion years ago. This process occurred when high-temperature fluids interacted with carbonate rocks, leading to the formation of a complex silicate-rich skarn. Historically, Sar-e-Sang has been continuously mined for over 6,000 years, supplying the deep blue stone for the jewelry of Egyptian pharaohs, Sumerian kings, and the pigment for Renaissance masterpieces.

For mineral collectors, Sar-e-Sang is the premier locality for lazurite, the primary mineral component of lapis lazuli. Unlike the massive material used for carving, the mine produces rare, sharp, and well-formed dodecahedral crystals of a deep "royal blue" color. These crystals are often found in a striking aesthetic contrast against a matrix of bright white marble or associated with golden specks of pyrite and white needles of afghanite. The difficulty of accessing the high-altitude mines, located at elevations over 3,000 meters in rugged mountain terrain, adds to the prestige and value of these specimens. Today, Sar-e-Sang remains the definitive global standard for lazurite, valued both for its historical legacy and its unmatched geological uniqueness.

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