{"product_id":"lapis-lazuli-afghanistan-origin-natural-specimen","title":"Lapis Lazuli – Afghanistan Origin | Natural Specimen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA rich, deep-blue Lapis Lazuli specimen sourced from Afghanistan's Badakhshan Province — the world's oldest and most revered source of this stone, mined continuously for thousands of years and still producing the finest quality material available anywhere on earth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeological profile:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfghan Lapis Lazuli forms within contact metamorphic zones where limestone has been subjected to intense heat and pressure from neighbouring igneous intrusions. The signature blue comes from lazurite — a complex tectosilicate mineral containing sulphur within its crystal structure, which produces that vivid, unmistakable ultramarine colour. The golden flecks are pyrite — iron sulphide — while white veining indicates the presence of calcite. The interplay of these three minerals within a single specimen is a fingerprint of the metamorphic conditions unique to the Badakhshan deposits.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecimen highlights:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eDeep, saturated blue consistent with top-grade Afghan material — distinct from the paler, greyer tones of Chilean or Russian Lapis\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eNatural pyrite inclusions creating characteristic golden speckling across the blue matrix\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eUnpolished and untreated — no dye, no resin stabilisation, no colour enhancement\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eGenuine Afghan origin — the benchmark against which all other Lapis Lazuli sources are measured\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy collectors value Afghan Lapis:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eBadakhshan material is universally regarded as the global standard for Lapis Lazuli — no other source matches the depth and saturation of colour produced by these specific metamorphic conditions\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe lazurite content in premium Afghan specimens is significantly higher than in material from competing localities, resulting in denser, more uniform blue with less calcite dilution\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eGeopolitical instability in the region has made consistent supply of quality specimens increasingly unpredictable — verified Afghan pieces at this grade are not guaranteed to remain accessible\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eOne of the most historically significant minerals in any collection — connecting geology, trade history, and cultural heritage across continents\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecimen details:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural Lapis Lazuli. Each piece varies in blue intensity, pyrite distribution, and calcite presence. Sourced and verified for Afghan origin. Photographs represent the actual specimen or specimen grade available.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ozyn Wellness","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52931258417437,"sku":"51","price":709.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1011\/4400\/2845\/files\/4745607507.jpg?v=1789416210","url":"https:\/\/shop.ozyn.co.za\/products\/lapis-lazuli-afghanistan-origin-natural-specimen","provider":"Ozyn shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}