Lazurite

specimen number:
2072231

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

description:
A choice loose blocky blue crystal without matrix. In good condition. Choice thumbnail.

The Sar-e-Sang mining district, located in the remote Kokcha Valley of Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, is the world's most ancient and famous source of lapis lazuli and related sodalite-group minerals. Geologically, the deposit is hosted within a sequence of Archean-aged marbles and gneisses that underwent high-grade regional metamorphism and subsequent metasomatism, resulting in the formation of rich lenses of lazurite, hauyne, and sodalite. The sodalite from this locality is particularly prized for its deep indigo to violet-blue color and its association with white calcite and golden pyrite. Historically, mining at Sar-e-Sang dates back over 6,000 years, supplying the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley. Unlike modern industrial mines, the operation remains largely artisanal and seasonal due to the extreme high-altitude terrain and harsh climate. Throughout the 20th century and into the present day, the mines have been worked through traditional tunneling and blasting methods, continuing to produce world-class lapis lazuli and vibrant blue sodalite specimens that are sought after for both jewelry and mineral collections.

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