Database of luminescent Minerals

LAZURITE

Chemical Formula: Na₆Ca₂Al₆Si₆O₂₄[(SO₄),S,Cl,(OH)]₂

Status: IMA-GP

Mineral for Display: No

Luminescence:

Phosphorescence (in the common meaning of the term) seen by naked eye:

Thermoluminescence: Yes

Comments:

This is a mineral of the sodalite family, more precisely a sulfide rich variety of Hauyne and should not be regarded as a separate species.

Lazurite is the blue component of the Lapis Lazuli, which is a Lazurite-Calcite-Pyrite rock.

From Lyadjvar, Pamir mountains, Tadjikistan. Fluoresces bluish under LW.

Lazurite of Ovalle Chile said to be thermoluminescente and phosphorescente by DeMent (see bibliography)

Main Activator(s) and spectrum:

Most Common Activator: S₂^-

Best Locality for luminescence(*):

• Lyadjvar, Pamir Mountains, Tadjikistan (bluish LW);
• Ladjuar Medam, Sar-e Sang, Koksha Valley, Khash & Kuran Wa Munjan Districts, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan;

(*)Data are not exhaustive and are limited to the most important localities for fluorescence

Bibliographical Reference for luminescence:

• The Henkel Glossary of Fluorescent Minerals, Dr. Gerhard Henkel, Published by the FMS, 1989 ,
• Luminescent Spectra of Minerals, Boris S. Gorobets and Alexandre A. Rogojine, Moscow, 2002 ,
• Handbook of Fluorescent Gems and Minerals, a practical guide for the gem and mineral collector, Jack de Ment, 1949 ,

Mineralogical Reference on internet:

  http://www.mindat.org/show.php?name=Lazurite

  http://webmineral.com/data/Lazurite.shtml

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