Charoite: what it is, where it's from, how to tell it's real
Charoite is purple that moves: swirls of lilac, violet and deep plum with a silky shimmer that shifts as you turn the stone, often cut through with black and orange streaks. It comes from a single region of Siberia, and nothing else looks quite like it.
What it is
Charoite is a complex potassium calcium silicate that grows as tightly packed, fibrous, interlocking crystals. Those fibres catch the light, which gives polished charoite its chatoyant, silky swirl. It is almost always found as a rock with other minerals mixed in: black aegirine, orange tinaksite, grey-white feldspar and quartz. Those contrasting streaks are part of what makes each piece recognisable.
Where it comes from
All charoite comes from the Murun massif in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Siberia, Russia, near the Chara River it's named after. It was described as a new mineral in 1978. The deposit is remote and seasonal to work, and the stone reaches the market as rough that is then cut into spheres, hearts, palm stones and cabochons.
How to tell real charoite
- Look for the swirl and the shimmer. Real charoite has fibrous, flowing patterns with a silky sheen that moves when the stone is turned. Flat, even purple with no movement is suspicious.
- Look for the companions. Black aegirine needles and orange tinaksite patches are typical of natural charoite and hard to fake.
- Watch for dyed and glass look-alikes. Purple dyed stone and glass are sold as charoite; dye collects in cracks, and glass shows bubbles and no fibrous structure under a loupe.
Looking after it
Charoite is moderately hard (about 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale) but polished surfaces can scratch against harder stones, so store it separately. Clean it with a soft cloth and plain water, and keep it out of strong, constant sunlight.
See the charoite pieces in the shop.
Questions
- Where does charoite come from?
- All charoite comes from the Murun massif in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Siberia, Russia, near the Chara River.
- Why does charoite shimmer?
- It is made of tightly packed fibrous crystals that reflect light, giving a silky, moving sheen called chatoyancy.
- How can I tell if charoite is real?
- Real charoite has swirling, fibrous purple patterns with a silky shimmer, often with black aegirine and orange tinaksite. Flat, even purple is often dyed stone or glass.