ARMENUS LAPIS, Armenian stone, in Natural History, a mineral substance, which is but improperly called a stone; being no other than an ochreous earth; and properly called blue ochre. It is a very valuable substance in painting, being a bright and lively blue. It was in so high esteem as a paint among the ancients, that counterfeits were continually attempted to serve in its place. Theophrastus had recorded it as a thing judged worthy a place in the Egyptian annals, which of their kings had the honour of inventing the factitious kind; and he tells us the genuine native substance was a thing of that value, that presents were made of it to great persons, and that the Phœnicians paid their tribute in it.—It is a very beautiful earth, of an even and regular texture; and of a fine blue, sometimes deeper, sometimes paler, and frequently mixed with green. It is soft, tender, and light; of an even, but somewhat dusty surface; it adheres firmly to the tongue, and is dry, but not harsh to the touch. It easily breaks between the fingers, and does not stain the hands. It is of a brackish disagreeable taste, and does not ferment with acids. It is a very scarce fossil; but is found very pure, though but in small quantities, in the mines at Gosselaer in Saxony. It is frequently found spotted with green, and sometimes with black; and very often is mixed among the green ochre, called berggruen by the Germans, which has thence been erroneously called by its name. See further the article BICE.