No mention of any source closer than India is given in Bauer's book. Lapis lazuli used by the ancient Egyptians is almost certainly from the early mines at Badakshan in the northeast corner of Afghanistan on the upper reaches of the River Oxus. Marco Polo first described this and nearby ruby localities as early as 1271 AD, but these mines had been worked for centuries before that. Their product reaching most of the early civilized world by well establish trade routes. The region is sill very remote.
Mining still takes place by primitive methods.
Onyx is a fairly soft stone, composed of calcium carbonate. It composes much of the common decorations in caves as the various types of formations. Onyx-alabaster is well known from the caves of Egypt and has been worked since ancient times. Cave-formation onyx has distinctive banding and is often pale yellowish tan in color. Brown agate owes its color to traces of oxidized iron scattered throughout the stone.