Charoite from Russia

Charoite 001

This is one of the worlds rarest, and prettiest, gem minerals.

Charoite deposit called “Sirenevyi Kamen” has only been known for less than 30 years, and this is the only location in the world where this material was ever found. The region in which Charoite was discovered is rather difficult to reach. It is located in the Murun Mountains in Yakutia, Russia. Charoite was found and explored by Russian geologists Vera P. Rogova and Yuri G. Rogova in the late 1950s. In 1978 the name “Charoite” was confirmed by the Commission on New Mineral Species.

Charoite has a glorious purple color with the unique pattern of swirls, feathers and needles. It may contain patches or stars of black (Aegerine), orange (Tinaksite) and also transparent crystals (Microcline Feldspar). The value of Charoite increases with the purity, density and brilliance of the purple color. Pure purple specimens are the most valuable and rare. This material is actually a silicate of potassium, calcium and sodium.

Charoite is a rare mineral, named for the Chara River. It is found where a syenite massif has intruded into and altered limestone deposits. Charoite is strong, translucent lavender to purple in color, reminding some of a granite or marble with its pearly, swirling luster. However, it is a discrete mineral rather than a rock. Charoite is strictly massive in nature, and fractures are conchoidal. It has an unusual swirling, fibrous appearance, sometimes chatoyant, and that, along with its intense color, sometimes of a "grape" nature, can lead many to believe at first that it is synthetic or enhanced artificially. It is said to be opaque and unattractive when found in the field, a fact that may have contributed to its late recognition.

The purple color in this stone is not treated in any way - it's completely natural. The wavy pattern you see in the face is highly chatoyant (like tiger eye) and light appears to dance across the surface when you move it. Charoite can come in numerous shades of purple, varying chatoyance and different inclusions, all of which affect the value. These pieces have the richest, darkest purple we have seen in any specimen of this stone - they are truly top grade gem quality slabs.

This stone has always been highly prized as a gemstone and as such I've never been able to afford it as a specimen despite its obvious beauty and unique eye appeal. I'd even referred to this pretty purple stone as "unobtainium".  I learned that the reason we don't see rough material is that Russia, like other countries, doesn't want the raw material sent out of the country, insisting that labor be employed locally to work the stone before export.