Faiza Tehseen

Pakistan possesses sizeable deposits of azure blue lapis lazuli waiting to be exploited. Artefacts crafted from the stone can bring a fortune to local artisans. Lapis lazuli is a semi-precious stone ranging in colour from blue, blue-green, and violet. Superfine lapis lazuli is priced between $100-$150 per carat approximately.

Talking to WealthPK, Syed Muzaffar Ali Bokhari, Project Director of Mineral Resource Mapping of Balochistan (MRMB) in the province’s Mines and Minerals Development Department, said lapis lazuli is a contact metamorphic rock in nature ranging from translucent to opaque. “In Chagai, Qila Saifullah, and Zhob, it is found in sizeable quantities and of good quality, with hardness of 5 to 5.50 at Mohs’ Scale. Low hardness is also found in some places. But its promising quantities are enough for trade for a long time to come.”

Talking about the stone, Incharge of Gemmology Laboratory, National Centre of Excellence, Geology, University of Peshawar, Shakirullah Orakzai said lapis lazuli rock was an aggregate of several minerals, including lazurite, pyrite, and calcite. “Sometimes varying amounts of mica, diopside, amphibole and feldspar are also found. The dominant colour is vivid blue but this may be varied in hue or shade in some places.”

Imran Babar, a miner and gemmologist, told WealthPK that lapis lazuli was a Latin word that meant stone. “Lazuli is derived from Lazulum/Lajward (Persian words), which mean blue sky or heavens. From the times of Prophet Solomon, it was mined by Jinnah. Even a mine in Afghanistan is still operational and is called the mine of Jinnah or Junduk (in the local language).”

Continuing the discussion, Imran Babar said lapis lazuli was found in many places in Pakistan, especially it was plentiful in Balochistan. “I myself have visited one of its mines in Parachinar, the district headquarters of the Kurram district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The chances of its existence are mostly associated with the areas of limestone deposits. The area possesses too many types and multiple colour variations of lapis lazuli. Quality-wise, it is classified in Pakistan as madan1, madan2, madan3, madan4, etc. Madan means mine in both Pushto and Persian.”

Imran Babar said in Peshawar, a great number of handicrafts were prepared using lapis lazuli. “Mostly it is used to craft the table tops, tiles, statues, beads, jewellery and many other types of ornamentation.” He said that high hardness brought a good price. “Madan4 quality in lapis keeps the hardness at 5.50, while lapis with the inclusion of calcite is low in hardness at 3.50.”  

During an interview with WealthPK, gemmologist and miner Zakirullah said that a great mass of lapis lazuli was still waiting to be exploited in different areas of Pakistan. “Sizeable deposits are found in Balochistan. Considerable but unexploited deposits are also found in the mountain ranges of the Karakoram extending to Afghanistan, Garam Chashma, Dir, Bajaur, etc. Its mines are ranging from Badakhshan to Chitral and the icy peak of Tirich Mir is hiding lapis in its crypts. Lapis deposits in Pakistan are only the subject of more exploration and exploitation.”

The vast deposits of lapis lazuli in Pakistan offer a good chance for foreign investors to explore and use them on an industrial scale. With naturally antibacterial, germicidal and acid-resistant effects, it is ideal to be used in fashioning countertops, kitchen slabs, and floors. Articles crafted from lapis lazuli ranging from ornamentation to building materials are an attractive segment for trade and business at both local and international levels.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk