Last Updated on December 29, 2023
Lapis lazuli is perhaps one of the most sought after of all stones, gems, crystals, and minerals because of its gorgeous royal blue exterior and accompanying flecks of gold pyrite.
If you’re lucky enough to have a piece of lapis lazuli in your collection, then it is probably a good idea to take proper care of it, especially when it comes to cleaning and recharging it. The most convenient way to cleanse stones, gems, crystals, and minerals is typically with water, but can lapis lazuli even go in water?
Technically, yes, lapis lazuli can go in water. It is highly recommended, though, that you avoid putting lapis lazuli in water because of its highly reactive composition.
Lapis lazuli is one of those rarities in the gem and crystal collecting world that actually has chemical reactions when put in water, so if you are curious about those chemical reactions and why it is oftentimes dangerous to put lapis lazuli in water, then this is the article for you!
Can Lapis Lazuli Go in Water?
Lapis lazuli can go in water, but it is highly recommended that you not put it in water unless you feel that it is absolutely necessary.
Although lapis lazuli sits at about a 5.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale—which is just above the water solubility point for minerals—it contains traces of other soft minerals and materials such as calcite. Calcite sits at only a 3 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
Because of its somewhat porous texture and exterior, water might actually dissolve some of the calcite and leave your lapis lazuli with an altered appearance and shape.
In addition to the fact that lapis lazuli is comprised of several minerals and materials that might dissolve if left in water for extended periods of time, its composition is also highly reactive with water and can even release harmful toxins.
Is Lapis Lazuli Toxic When it Goes in Water?
The lapis lazuli itself does not necessarily become toxic when placed in water. However, lapis lazuli does release harmful toxins into water when soaked.
When lapis lazuli is soaked in water, the flecks of pyrite can release sulfur into the water, which is why it’s particularly dangerous to put lapis lazuli in your drinking water or bath water: Ingesting sulfur or exposing your skin to sulfur is hazardous. Skin irritation is a common reaction for people who put lapis lazuli in their bath water.
If you do feel that it’s necessary to cleanse your lapis lazuli in water for any reason—for instance, there’s just so much negative energy built up that no alternative cleansing method is working—then it is wise to wear gloves when putting it in water.
Can Lapis Lazuli Go in Salt?
The main reason that many other stones, crystals, gems, and minerals should not go in saltwater is that the salt ultimately corrodes them and ends up widening preexisting cracks and gaps. This is true for lapis lazuli, too.
However, lapis lazuli also cannot go in saltwater because it is made up of compounds that have the ability to react with salt. If you put your lapis lazuli in saltwater—especially for long periods of time—there’s a good chance that you might come back to it and find that it’s much smaller, it’s a different shape and texture, or it’s a slightly different color.
What is Lapis Lazuli Good for?
I know what you may be thinking: Lapis lazuli seems very high maintenance in comparison to other stones, gems, crystals, and minerals. So, is it really worth adding such a high maintenance piece to your collection?
Lapis lazuli obviously requires some extra care and attention, but—excluding the fact that it is just a beautiful piece to have in your collection—it also has plenty of energetic value.
Lapis lazuli is associated with opening the mind, wisdom, personal enlightenment, self-awareness, and self-knowledge. This means that whether you are struggling with your own identity or humanity’s identity on a larger scale, lapis lazuli can help lead you on a journey to self-discovery.
In order to benefit from its energetic properties, you need to recharge lapis lazuli on a regular basis. Since water is basically out of the question for cleansing lapis lazuli—unless you are extra careful while doing so—you can cleanse lapis lazuli by simply placing it next to other powerful crystals in your collection or meditating upon it, whichever suits you best!
