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lapis lazuli - stone of rulers
Although not the only place lapis is mined, the ancient source, located in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountains -- running northeast to southwest dividing the northern provinces from the rest of the country -- still produces the finest material.
To be considered a true mineral, lapis would have to be made up of one component only.
The finest quality lapis, called "royal blue," is an intense blue with minor patches of calcite and just a sprinkling of pyrite.
Chile produces lapis but it is generally considered inferior to Afghanistan's, being much lighter in color (denim) and heavily mottled with calcite. Some Chilean lapis is dyed to make it appear a deeper blue.
the lovely lazuli
Lapis, the commonly used shortened version of lapis lazuli, is one of the more recognized 'gem stones' by the general public. However, lapis does not have a crystalline structure and so, by definition, can't be included in the list of precious or semi-precious gems.
That is because lapis is actually a rock rather than a mineral -- since it's made up of a combination of other minerals. Although lapis is mostly lazurite, it's also composed of sodalite, calcite, pyrite, and hauyne (also known as huaynite).

modern lapis mining, afghanistan

Even though lapis isn't a mineral, its importance as a 'gem' product lies in its longevity, heavily influenced by its attractive coloring, both of which have ensured its use since antiquity. Value also has to do with its relatively limited availability; the best lapis not only comes from one source -- Afghanistan -- the area in which lapis is mined there is nearly inaccessible.
An important caveat for buyers: if it doesn't have pyrite, it's not lapis. Small crystals of pyrite are always present in lapis and their brassy yellow color is a distinguisher separating lapis from its blue cousin, sodalite, which lacks pyrite. One should also be aware too much calcite in the stone, especially in the form of white streaks, diminishes its gem value.

symbolic attributes

birthstones
traditional December
miscellaneous
anniversary 9th
metaphysical
astrological gem Libra, Sagittarius
planetary stone Capricorn
energy receptive / yang
planet Venus
element water