#naty-js

There are many color variations for Lapis Lazuli, as with most gems, including royal blue, marine blue, indigo, etc. However, I'm afraid "Phoenix" Lapis Lazuli isn't a real variation of Lapis Lazuli (as far as I’ve seen anyways). At the very least, that name is typically only used by online gem sellers who are trying to make their gems sound more exotic or rare (often times, the gems are dyed low-quality Lapis Lazuli, or they aren’t even Lapis at all). Here’s a good website that details how to spot a fake Lapis Lazuli gem if you’re ever planning on purchasing one.

Some low-quality Lapis Lazuli can have white calcite mixed in, which accounts for some of the color variation. Very low-quality Lapis can look dull and green due to excess pyrite (fool's gold). Valuable ones typically have no calcite, but they can still contain flecks of pyrite. They should be a nice rich blue! This website shows a good range of the colors (as show below):

Lazurite in a Lapis Lazuli gem causes it to be a deep royal blue color whereas afganite (and calcite) can cause Lapis Lazuli to be pale blue.

As for other official names for Lapis Lazuli, I've seen them called different things based on their colors. Persian / Afghan Lapis Lazuli are usually a dark, almost violet blue (containing no calcite), Russian / Siberian Lapis Lazuli contain various tones / intensities of blue (containing some calcite), and Chilean Lapis Lazuli often have spots of green with obvious calcite mixed in. (Source: x) Ironically, these names don’t necessarily correlate to where a specific Lazuli was mined; they only serve to refer to the color of the gem. (Source: x)

Art request by mischiefmaster98 (dA)