" " Lapis lazuli is a rock, which means it consists of three minerals, including lazurite, calcite and pyrite. Gemological Institute of America This prized material has been used to adorn great works of art from pharaohs' coffins to the Sistine Chapel, and it's also touted for its connection to "cosmic wisdom" and use in feng shui. In fact, it was once more precious than gold. We're talking, of course, about brilliant blue lapis lazuli, which can be found on King Tut's coffin and other funeral items. In crushed form, it became the bluest blue in an artist's palette — ultramarine — so expensive that Michelangelo couldn't afford it.