Lapis Lazuli (Lazurite) Pigment

As low as €30.80
In stock
Only %1 left
SKU
410-15
Lazurite is a rare blue mineral found with other minerals in a rock called lapis lazuli. We buy select pieces from one of the oldest lazurite mines in Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Pieces are finely ground and levigated to obtain the highest purity.

Lapis Lazuli is a rock containing the mineral lazurite, a complex sodium calcium aluminum silicate sulfate, in which part of the silicon atoms (Si) are substituted for sulfur atoms (S) in the form of sulfur anions. The rich blue color is due to the sulfur inherent in the structure of lazurite. It is usually described as an intense blue to gray-blue. The greater the sulfur anions, the more intense the blue color of lazurite. In its vivid dark blue variety, the sulfur content reaches 0.7%. Lazurite, an amply soft and brittle mineral, is easily processed as a pigment. It is a popular but expensive mineral commonly found combined with other minerals in the rock called lapis lazuli. Lapis lazuli, or lapis for short, is mostly lazurite but commonly contains pyrite, calcite, and other minerals. Lazurite means "blue rock" and is always a brilliant blue with violet or greenish tints. Tiny pyrite crystals (FeS2) are always present in lapis, and their gold-yellow color distinguishes lapis from a similar mineral, sodalite, and the synthetic pigment, ultramarine. The golden impregnations of pyrite create the impression of stars in a dark blue sky. Calcite produces white streaks in lapis, and too much calcite lowers the value of the mineral pigment. The carbonate mineral azurite has a very similar color to lazurite but is associated with the green mineral malachite.

Pigment Names
Common Names (rock):English: lapis lazuli
French: lapis-lazuli
German: Lapislazuli
Italian: lapislazzuli
Spanish: lapislázuli
Common Names (mineral):English: lazurite
French: lazurite
German: Lazurit
Italian: lasurite
Spanish: lazurite
Common Names (pigment):English: ultramarine (natural)
French: outremer (lapis)
German: ultramarin (lapis)
Italian: ultramarino (geuino)
Spanish: ultramarino (lapis)
Alternate Names:lapis lazuli blau, lasurstein blau, bleu d'azur
Nomenclature:
Common NamePrimary MineralSource
Lapis LazuliLazuriteAfghanistan

 

Pigment Information
Color:Blue
Pigment Classification:Natural Inorganic
Colour Index:Pigment Blue 29 (77007) (for synthetic ultramarine)
Chemical Name:Sodium Calcium Aluminum Silicate Sulfate
Chemical Formula:(Na, Ca)8Al6Si6O24(S, SO4)
CAS No.:1302-83-6
Series No.:7
ASTM Lightfastness
Acrylic:I
Oil:I
Watercolor:I
Physical Properties
Particle Size (mean):12 microns
Density:2.70–2.90 g/cm3
Hardness:5.0–5.5
Refractive Index:1.50–1.55
Oil Absorption:25 grams oil / 100 grams pigment
Health and SafetyNo acute or known chronic health hazards are associated with this product's anticipated use (most chemicals are not thoroughly tested for chronic toxicity). Protect yourself against potentially unknown chronic hazards of this and other chemical products by keeping them out of your body. Do this by avoiding ingestion, excessive skin contact, and inhaling spraying mists, sanding dust, and vapors from heating. Conforms to ASTM D-4236.


For a detailed explanation of the terms in the table above, please visit Composition and Permanence.

Origin and History of Use

Lazurite is a historical pigment found in Egyptian tomb paintings as early as the Fourth Dynasty (sixth century B.C.). The statue of Pharaoh Thutmose III was covered with lazurite, known to the ancient Egyptians as the "sky stone." Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo Buonarotti used the pigment. The two large (five meters high) central columns of the iconostasis of Isaacs Cathedral in St. Petersburg were made in 1854 from Badakhshan lazurite, purchased by Russian empress Ekaterina II at the price of a pound of silver for a pound of stone.

Lapis lazuli has been mined for centuries from a location still in use in the mountain valley of Kokcha, Afghanistan. First mined 6,000 years ago, the rock was transported to Egypt and later to Europe, where it was used in jewelry and paint pigment. Europeans called the expensive powdered pigment ultramarine, which literally means over the sea. Since the 19th century, ultramarine has been manufactured artificially. Although now not the only source of lazurite, the mine in Afghanistan still produces the finest quality material. Lazurite is found only at high altitudes, especially in deposits of tall mountain ranges. For example, in 1931, it was found in the Pamirs Mountains at the height of 5,000 meters. In these mines, enormous chunks of dolomite marble hold fast to small accumulations of lazurite. To protect mines from looting, in past centuries, an unauthorized approach was penalized by capital punishment, and miners were secured to the walls of mine shafts by chains. Lazurite was considered a sacred stone, and the emir held the right to manage its production. In Russia during the 18th and 19th centuries, lazurite was highly valued for many objects of applied arts. A new epoch in the use of lazurite began with the discovery in 1851 of a large deposit near Lake Baikal, after which Russian workshops achieved a high degree of craftsmanship in manufacturing large art objects (columns, vases, etc.).

Source

Lazurite is currently extracted from two regions of the former Soviet Union: the Malobystrinskoye deposit of the south Baikal region and the Lyadzhvardarinskoye deposit in the southwestern Pamirs Mountains. The first layer is processed as an open pit, and the second is through underground mining galleries. Lazurite from these deposits provides faultless specimens for jewelry, and the remaining accumulations, unevenly distributed in dolomite marble, are used to produce mosaics and high-quality paint pigment. Other significant deposits of lazurite are found at Ovalle, Cordillera, Chile; Mt. Vesuvius, Italy; Cascade Canyon, San Bernardino Mountains and Ontario Peak, California; and in the Sawatch Mountains, Colorado, U.S.A.

We buy select pieces of lapis lazuli stone from one of the oldest lazurite mines in the world in Afghanistan. For over 4,000 years, lazurite has been extracted at Shar Shakh in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, where we obtain our mineral.

Permanence and Compatibility

Lazurite is lightfast, resistant to atmospheric gases, and possesses good hiding power. It is durable with all other permanent pigments. It is suitable for all techniques.

Oil Absorption and Grinding

Lazurite absorbs a moderate amount of oil during dispersion and forms a good flexible film. To prepare pigment from lazurite, selected pieces of small size, as free as possible from pyrites and other impurities, are heated in a crucible and quenched (étonné). This material is then finely ground, levigated, and washed. Cennini describes a method to purify the pigment even further to obtain the highest quality grades of pigment. Basically, finely washed pigment is mixed with a bit of wax, rosin, and linseed oil in the form of a dough. This is kneaded in a weak solution of soda lye. The finest particles of color are withdrawn by the alkaline water and settle out when left standing. The dough retains the impurities. This process is repeated, and the consecutive extracts from the same dough become grayer in color. The first extraction is the purest and deepest blue color, and the last is blue-gray. We will soon offer grades of lazurite hand-processed with this ancient formula.

Toxicity

Lazurite is not considered toxic, but care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment so as not to inhale the dust.

For more information on handling pigments safely, please visit How to Safely Handle Art Materials and Pigments.

More Information
SKU410-15
BrandRublev Colours
VendorRublev Colours
Processing TimeUsually ships the next business day.
ColorBlue
Pigment TypeInorganic, Historical, Natural

Order Processing

If the Processing Time for items in your order is "Usually ships within 24-48 hours", your order will usually be processed within 48 hours of receipt Monday through Friday. Orders received during weekends and holidays will be processed on the next business (working) day. Orders with longer processing times will be shipped when all items become available.

Shipping Rates

Please add your desired items and the delivery address to your basket to determine the exact shipping costs and options. The table below provides shipping rates for different weights to the countries we ship to.

Carriers

We use the following carriers to deliver orders:

DPD Logo DHL Logo FedEx Logo

Below is an approximate guide to shipping costs for locations in Europe. Rates may change without notice.

COUNTRYALPHA-2RATES PER PARCELSCARRIER
0–10 kg>10 kg–30 kg
AustriaAT11,50 €11,50 €DPD
BelgiumBE10,95 €10,95 €DPD
BulgariaBG20,25 €30,25 €FedEx
Bosnia and HerzegovinaBA49,25 €49,25 €DPD
CyprusCY21,80 €29,30 €FedEx
SwitzerlandCH25,85 €42,98 €FedEx
Czech RepublicCZ12,00 €12,00 €DPD
GermanyDE5,50 €5,50 €DPD
DenmarkDK12,00 €12,00 €DPD
SpainES17,48 €28,50 €FedEx
EstoniaEE21,70 €21,70 €DPD
FinlandFI17,48 €28,50 €FedEx
FranceFR14,60 €14,60 €DPD
United KingdomGB– €– €
GreeceGR17,48 €28,50 €FedEx
CroatiaHR29,25 €29,25 €DPD
HungaryHU15,90 €15,90 €DPD
IrelandIE17,48 €28,50 €FedEx
IcelandIS30,70 €62,40 €DHL
ItalyIT15,90 €15,90 €DPD
LiechtensteinLI25,85 €43,00 €FedEx
LithuaniaLT21,70 €21,70 €DPD
LuxembourgLU10,95 €10,95 €DPD
LatviaLV21,70 €21,70 €DPD
MaltaMT21,80 €30,25 €FedEx
MonacoMC15,95 €24,30 €FedEx
NetherlandsNL10,95 €10,95 €DPD
NorwayNO25,85 €43,00 €FedEx
PolandPL14,90 €14,90 €DPD
PortugalPT15,50 €15,50 €DPD
RomaniaRO21,80 €30,25 €FedEx
SerbiaRS49,25 €49,25 €DPD
SlovakiaSK15,90 €15,90 €DPD
SloveniaSI15,90 €15,90 €DPD
SwedenSE15,90 €15,90 €DPD
TurkeyTR27,30 €46,20 €FedEx


Note: Countries in RED type are not members of the European Union.


Postal Service

Shipping (EU and non-EU countries):

Up to 500 grams Tracked: 6,85 €

Up to 1000 grams Tracked: 10,45 €

Up to 2000 grams Tracked: 20,50 €


Tracking

For tracking details, please log in to your Natural Pigments account.

We track all orders where a tracked delivery service has been selected.

We will update your order with the tracking information if the shipping carrier provides a tracking number. You can locate the tracking number for your order in the shipping confirmation email you receive when your order is shipped. (Look for the email with the subject line "Natural Pigments: Shipment # xxxxxxxxx for Order # xxxxxxxxx.") You can also find the tracking number by signing into your account and visiting My Account Dashboard under Recent Orders.

VAT for Orders within the European Union

VAT is not included in prices unless specified on the website as VAT INCLUSIVE. VAT is calculated for Germany at 19% on both order subtotal and shipping cost and is added to the order grand total.

VAT, Duties, and Tariffs for Orders Outside of the European Union

VAT is not included in prices and totals unless specified on the website as VAT INCLUSIVE. Duties, tariffs, and customs broker fees are not included in the prices and totals on the website. These charges are in addition to what you will pay when ordering. These charges originate in the delivery country, so please contact your local customs for more information.

Shipping Rates

The rate charged for the shipping of your order is based on the weight of your products and your location. Before the final checkout page, you will be shown what the shipping cost will be, and you will have a chance to abandon your order if you decide not to place it.

Shipping Damage

For shipping damage, customers should file a claim with the carrier immediately. Any discrepancy, including wrong or missing items, should be reported to Natural Pigments within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt.

Back Orders

We do not accept backorders for out-of-stock items. If you order an out-of-stock item, we will email you when we expect that product to be available. You will be among the first to receive the item when it becomes available. Natural Pigments will not charge your credit card for out-of-stock items.

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Lapis Lazuli Pigment
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