Lapis Lazuli from Chile - Extra Large
Lapis lazuli from Chile is relatively rare and highly sought after by collectors. We only have a small number of these stones available and have not been able to find more.
The earliest reference to the deposit, which is in Coquimbo, was in 1850.
Although some references mention another lapis lazuli deposit in Chile, the stone found there was identified in 1991 as dumortierite.
In the early 1980s, the quality of Chilean lapis lazuli was described as "at best mediocre." More recently, significant quantities of fine-grade material have been discovered.
The lapis lazuli mine is situated high in the Andes on the steep slope of an amphitheatre-like valley, just five hundred metres from the border with Argentina.
Due to extreme weather conditions, it's only accessible during the summer months, which for countries in the southern hemisphere is January to April. From May, the road becomes blocked by snow, and from October, it floods as temperatures rise.
The size of these Chilean lapis lazuli stones varies slightly from piece to piece.
