metamorphic
Charoite
Charoite (K(Ca,Na)2Si4O10(OH,F)·H2O)
Hardness: 5-6 (Mohs scale); Color: bright lavender to deep violet with pearly/silky white, gray, or black swirls; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Good in three directions; Specific Gravity: 2.54-2.58
- Hardness
- 5-6 (Mohs scale)
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-6 (Mohs scale); Color: bright lavender to deep violet with pearly/silky white, gray, or black swirls; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Good in three directions; Specific Gravity: 2.54-2.58
Formation & geological history
Formed by the contact metamorphism of limestone by syenite intrusions. The specific complex geological conditions for its formation date back roughly 115 to 140 million years ago.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a lapidary stone for cabochons, beads, ornamental carvings, and high-end jewelry. It is also a highly prized specimen for mineral collectors due to its rarity.
Geological facts
Charoite is one of the rarest gemstones in the world because it is found in only one location on Earth: the Chary River area in the Murun Massif in Siberia, Russia. It was only officially discovered in the late 1940s and described in 1978.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its unique 'chatoyant' or pearly swirling patterns of purple and white that look like brushstrokes. It is only found in the Yakutia region of Siberia. Collectors should look for vibrant purple hues and minimal black inclusions.
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