Lapus Lazuli

Opaque, ultramarine colours. Rock of different mineral - blue lazurite with patches of white calcite and usually small golden flecks of pyrite. The most highly prized has a deep, even blue colour with many pyrite flecks and little visible white.

Known since antiquity eg: Afghan since c.5000 years ago where it was traded to Egypt and Sumeria; A. Egypt was ground to powder to use as eyeshadow (also by Romans and Greeks).

As a pigment is used in art as an expensive ultramarine blue. In Renaissance wealthy patrons would commission artists to use it on the robes of the Virgin Mary. Today used as jewellery, carvings, beads and decoration.

Moh's of 5.5 so easy to carve and polish.

Lore: cures saddness

Arab Roots of Gemolgy

Some elements from 'Arab roots of gemolgy: Ahmad ibn Yusuf Al Tifaschi's Best Thoughts on the Best of Stones' (c.1240) trans. Samar Najm Abul Huda. The Scarecrow Press, London, 1998.

Same formation as malachite. Brought form a mountain in Tukharistan and in the land of Persia near Armenia.

It is a soft porous stone. The best is most radiant and clear with and even sky-blue to midnight-blue colour.

If joined to gold each one increases in beauty in colour in the eyes of the beholder. If placed over a smokeless coal the resulting flame will be blue while the stone remains unchanged - genuine stones are differentiated from the fake ones with this test.

Good for the eyes if added to clolyriums. If powdered it promotes growth of eyelashes and clears moisture from the eyes. If drunk after being washed it promotes diarrhea, if drunk unwashed it induces vomitting. Safeguards against melancholy. Good for asthma and menses. Powdered and mixed with vinegar is good for leprosy spots. Al Maseehy said it is effective against the plague.

Genuine stone is found as large or small stones. The large is panned, purified and ground. The others are used for finger-rings. Purifying and panning lapis is a profitable business.