Lapis Lazuli Rough Specimen – Badakhshan, Afghanistan

Lapis Lazuli Rough Specimen from Badakhshan, Afghanistan

This raw Lapis Lazuli specimen weighs 476 grams and comes from Badakhshan, Afghanistan, a mountainous region in the northeast of the country recognized as the source of genuine, unpolished Lapis Lazuli. The piece is offered exactly as sourced, with no lapidary work applied.

Shape and Physical Form

Measuring 7.6 x 10.5 cm across with a substantial 6.6 cm depth, this specimen has a large, thick footprint that gives it a heavy, chunky three-dimensional presence rather than a flat profile. Its base allows it to stand stably as a standalone piece.

Mineral Composition and Color

The core Lazurite matrix carries a deep, saturated indigo-to-ultramarine tone. Running through the raw surface are veins of bright metallic golden Pyrite and paths of white Calcite, both of which occur naturally alongside Lazurite in genuine Badakhshan Lapis Lazuli. Nothing here has been treated, dyed, or enhanced.

Display and Lapidary Use

At 476 grams with a thick, self-standing form, this specimen suits a gallery shelf or mantelpiece where its scale and stability can stand on their own. Its raw, uncut form also makes it usable as material for lapidary artists working with rough stone rather than finished cuts.