Chinese Turquoise and Lapis Pendant

Afghanistan lapis and Chinese Turquoise set in 925 Sterling Silver by Vaughn Nagel.

Width: 26mm

Length: 60mm

Unlike American turquoise which is identified by the specific mine, Chinese turquoise has historically been referred to as "Chinese turquoise", even though there are several different areas that produce the stone. Turquoise has been mined in China for over 2000 years, evidenced by its use in many pieces of art and carvings from some of the earliest dynasties.
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Lapis lazuli, also known simply as "lapis," is a blue metamorphic rock that has been used by people as a gemstone, sculpting material, pigment, and ornamental material for thousands of years. High quality lapis lazuli can be a costly gem. The most desirable specimens have a rich, solid blue color and perhaps a few reflective pieces of gold pyrite.

Unlike most other gem materials, lapis lazuli is not a mineral. Instead, it is a rock composed of multiple minerals. The blue color of lapis lazuli is mainly derived from the presence of lazurite, a blue silicate mineral of the sodalite group with a chemical composition of (Na,Ca)₈(AlSiO₄)₆(S,Cl,SO₄,OH)₂.

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