5 Beautiful Things About Afghanistan

Alyssa Hollingsworth | May 27, 2016

3. Lapis Lazuli

My love

Goes everywhere in her sandals.

And wears lapis lazuli on her finger.

-Ten Poems, Raymond Carver

Lapis lazuli is a famous stone said to have been only mined in Afghanistan until quite recently. You can find its ultramarine hues all across the ancient world, from the Book of Kells in Ireland to the precious stones in King Tut’s mask. The stone was immeasurably precious and is still beautiful today.

Lapis lazuli is sold in the markets of Kabul, in airports, and in Dubai and other stopovers near Afghanistan. Its startlingly blue color, shot through with gold and silver, makes it very distinctive.

Afghanistan is also said to have one of the largest emerald deposits in the world. At the present, it is too dangerous to mine this resource, so the country is better known for its lapis.

Bob Richmond

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