|
Synthetic
Lapis Lazuli
This is not yet widely available on the market.
Appearance A uniform, deep
blue color with a hint of violet, which is uncommon in the
natural material. It easily takes a fine polish and is also
produced scattered with minute fragments of pyrite. It is
made into cabochons and, above all, spherical or polyhedral
polished necklace beads.
Distinctive features It never contains the
patches and veins of light-colored minerals often visible
in natural lapis lazuli. Because this product is an artificial
agglomerate of tiny, relatively homogeneous particles, rather
than a collection of small crystals which have developed together,
interpenetrating to some extent, granulometry reveals a minute,
uniform structure.
Furthermore, when synthetic lapis lazuli contains
pyrite, microscopic examination reveals that this consists
of small, ground fragments evenly mixed with the other constituents.
It reacts to hydrochloric acid by an even stronger emission
of hydrogen sulphide than natural lapis lazuli. The combination
of unusually low density and high porosity is quite distinctive.
Cost Decidedly low, much like that of other
inexpensive synthetic ornamental materials.
|
