Lapis Lazuli Ore

Lapis lazuli ore is the ore block from which lapis lazuli is obtained.

Obtaining
The lapis lazuli ore block itself (rather than its lapis lazuli drops) can be obtained by mining it with an stone pickaxe or better with the Silk Touch enchantment.

Natural generation
Lapis lazuli ore is found at a depth of 31 and below. The highest concentration of lapis lazuli ore is found between levels 13 and 16. At this level the concentration is about 0.083% of all blocks (0.1013% of stone). The concentration drops linearly as one gets farther from these rows. Overall, lapis lazuli is around 1.1 times as common as diamond ore with an average of 3.43 lapis lazuli per chunk.

Usage
Lapis lazuli ore drops 4-8 lapis lazuli and 2-5 experience when mined with a stone pickaxe or better. Mining with a Fortune enchanted pickaxe will increase yields; up to 32 lapis lazuli shards can be dropped from one ore.

Smelting ingredient
Note: Smelting the ore instead of mining it is highly inefficient, as mining it with a regular pickaxe will yield more lapis lazuli and more experience.

Trivia

 * Lapis lazuli is based on the real stone for which it is named and has historically been a prized and rare stone used in jewelry and as a dye.