Sar-i-Sang

Afghanistan · Badakhshan
Lapis Lazuli from Sar-i-Sang, Afghanistan
Photo: James St. John · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Sar-e-Sang, in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, is the world's oldest and most famous source of lapis lazuli, worked for over six thousand years.

About Sar-i-Sangextended article

What it is known for

The Sar-e-Sang marbles host deep-blue lapis lazuli (rich in lazurite), often flecked with golden pyrite and white calcite — the material prized since antiquity.

What collectors look for

Intensely blue lapis with even colour and attractive pyrite flecking is the prize; crystallised lazurite is a collector rarity.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Sar-i-Sang?

Sar-i-Sang is a mineral locality in Badakhshan, Afghanistan.

What minerals are found at Sar-i-Sang?

Minerals from Sar-i-Sang include Lapis Lazuli, Lazurite.

What is Sar-i-Sang known for?

Sar-e-Sang, in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, is the world's oldest and most famous source of lapis lazuli, worked for over six thousand years.

References & databases

Mindat.org is the world’s largest open mineralogy database.