Lapis Lazuli near Lake Harbour, Southern Baffin Island, Canada

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Author: Hogarth, D. D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1971
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Baffin Island; Canada; Lake Harbour; Baffin
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e71-112; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e71-112

Two lapis lazuli occurrences are present in marble near the cores of synforms near Lake Harbour, southern Baffin Island. The main occurrence covers an area of 3500 m 2 and contains 4 zones, the longest traced for 168 m. The lapis lazuli consists mainly of haüyne, diopside, plagioclase, and calcite in varying proportions. Phlogopite, nepheline, tremolite, and scapolite are locally abundant. The rock could have originated during metamorphism through an exchange of elements between evaporites and interbedded shales. Blue haüyne has an absorption maximum at 600 nm, green haüyne maxima at 400 and 600 nm. On heating in air the 600 nm peak is greatly extended and both green and blue haüyne become deep blue. At the main occurrence, the longest zone could possibly supply commercial grade gem and ornamental stone, although the fractured nature and pale color are handicaps.