Judging quality
Look for strong purple with silky chatoyance and contrasting black aegirine or orange tinaksite inclusions. There is a single source, so any other claimed origin is wrong.
Silicate
Charoite
Swirling fibrous violet silicate found only along the Chara River in Siberia. The chatoyant feathered patterning is unmistakable.
Care
Moderately soft and fibrous. Wipe dry; avoid abrasives.
History & lore
Only recognised as a new mineral species in 1978, making it one of the most recently discovered ornamental stones.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Charoite
- What is Charoite?
- Swirling fibrous violet silicate found only along the Chara River in Siberia. The chatoyant feathered patterning is unmistakable.
- How hard is Charoite and what is it made of?
- Charoite is a Silicate-family mineral with the composition K(Ca,Na)2Si4O10(OH,F)·H2O. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and rates 5-6 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in violet, purple, white.
- Where does Charoite come from?
- Notable localities for Charoite include Russia (Sakha, Chara River).
- How do you tell good Charoite from filler?
- Look for strong purple with silky chatoyance and contrasting black aegirine or orange tinaksite inclusions. There is a single source, so any other claimed origin is wrong.
- How do you care for Charoite?
- Moderately soft and fibrous. Wipe dry; avoid abrasives.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.