Lazulite
Phosphate mineral
Lazulite or Azure spar is a transparent to semi-opaque, blue mineral that is a phosphate of magnesium, iron, and aluminium, with the chemical formula (Mg,Fe2+)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2. Lazulite forms one endmember of a solid solution series with the darker, iron-rich scorzalite.
Lazulite crystallizes in the monoclinic system. Its crystal habits include steep bipyramidal or wedge-shaped crystals. Lazulite has a Mohs hardness of 5.5-6.0 and a specific gravity of 3.0-3.1. It is infusible and insoluble.
01Occurrence and discovery
Lazulite forms by high-grade metamorphism of silica-rich rocks and in pegmatites. It occurs in association with quartz, andalusite, rutile, kyanite, corundum, muscovite, pyrophyllite, dumortierite, wagnerite, svanbergite, trolleite, 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.
The type locality is in Freßnitzgraben in Krieglach, it's also 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.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Lazulite”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Lazulite-tmix07-168a.jpg by Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lazulite-dtn2a.jpg by Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.