How to understand what a real charm is?

The exclusive mineral charoite comes from Russia. Near Yakutia and the Irkutsk region, in the valley of the Chara River, it is mined using a quarry method. Other deposits are currently unknown.

History of charoite

Charoite is one of the young stones. The first discovery took place in the middle of the 20th century, but the mineral was then mistakenly taken for a subspecies of serpentine. Charoite was officially recognized only 30 years later. Geologists from Russia are recorded as the discoverers of the stone – Yu.A. Alekseev, Yu.G. Rogov and V.P. Rogova.

There is a story about how Yuri Rogov went on a business trip to Paris, namely to the Louvre, to the mineral museum. It was believed that the local exhibition contained all the known stones, but there was no charoite in it. Yuri Rogov refused to sell the sample to the French.

The first product made from charoite is a ball, a special prize at the IX Moscow International Film Festival. Since then, the stone was noticed and became popular, despite its rarity and high cost.

Physico-chemical characteristics of charoite

Charoite is a complex silicate that contains potassium, barium, strontium, calcium, sodium and fluorine. The mineral is colored pale lilac or dark purple. The crystals have a monoclinic system and a conchoidal fracture.

Hardness on the Mohs scale 6-7. Specific gravity 2,5-2,6 g/cm3.

Types of charoite

In mineralogy, many subspecies of charoite are distinguished, which differ both in structure and texture, and in color. For example, the following types of stone are distinguished:

• pale violet color;
• plain purple color;
• dark ink stones;
• painted in rich lavender color;
• lilac shade;
• pronounced lilac color.

Magical properties of charoite

Charoite is colored purple, which has always been a symbol of spirituality, wisdom and harmony. For this reason, philosophers and poets choose the gem as a talisman. Charoite helps its owner to better feel the world and communicate with a higher power. Like amethyst, the mineral brings restraint, calmness, and develops intuition. But at the same time, with charoite, a period of change begins in a person’s life, new acquaintances are made, and unexpected meetings help in finding new solutions. Charoite balls are used as inspiring amulets by creative people.

Charoite is able to influence the passage of time and human perception of it. It becomes an excellent assistant when changing the rhythm of life, when moving and the need to adapt to new conditions and daily routine.

It is believed that those who have charoite jewelry will never be lonely. The stone protects the family hearth and is a source of love and mutual understanding between spouses. If you give it to someone with whom you had a quarrel, the relationship will quickly improve.

Healing properties of charoite

Charoite, like other purple stones, has a positive effect on a person’s mental sphere: if you look at it for a long time, relaxation, a feeling of peace and tranquility comes. Charoite bracelets are recommended for mental disorders.

The gem also slows down aging, for this reason it is used in massage aimed at influencing the skin and the general condition of the body. Pendants with charoite are also worn to prolong youth. The stone helps increase immunity and activates defense, develops memory. A sample applied to the sore spots seems to “draw out” the pain.

Charoite has a positive effect on the functioning of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, and heart muscle. It is used in the treatment of prostatitis, diseases of the genitourinary system, headaches and head injuries.

Applications for charoite

Charoite is beautiful, durable, easy to process and polish, and looks chic in jewelry, so it is widely used in the manufacture of inserts for rings, beads, etc. Since there are limits on the extraction of the stone, it has not achieved worldwide popularity. In addition, prices for gems increase every year, as does its rarity. Charoite is also used in creating decorative items (boxes, vases, watches, figurines, candelabra). The wide color palette of the mineral allows it to be used in creating mosaic panels made as bulk or Florentine mosaics.

Charoite colors

Charoite is colored in a unique purple color and its surface is decorated with natural patterned designs. For this reason, the gem is known as the “lilac miracle of Siberia.” The color of the mineral is associated with the presence of manganese in its composition, and varies from brown and soft lilac to deep purple with a smooth transition from a light shade to an almost black tone.

The most valuable specimens of the stone are considered to be uniformly colored specimens with a pronounced mother-of-pearl tint.

How to distinguish a real charoite from a fake

Each specimen of natural charoite is accompanied by a special certificate, which, in addition to quality, confirms its lack of radioactive properties. Natural samples are also distinguished by a fairly high cost; such a valuable and rare gem cannot be cheap by definition.

To identify a fake:

• study the structure of the stone: natural material always contains inclusions of gray, brown or green color. Its surface is covered with a pattern, and cracks and silvery tints are usually visible on it.
• apply the stone to the cheek, and for quite a long time a pleasant chill is felt on the skin, since charoite heats up slowly, unlike plastic imitations.

How to care for charoite

Charoite is a medium-hard stone; products made from it are protected from impacts, scratches and cracks, and are stored separately from other stones in tightly closed boxes. To clean the stone and products made from it, use warm soapy water and a soft cloth, after which they are washed with cool running water, thoroughly dried and polished.

Charoite and zodiac sign

Charoite is associated with the planet Venus, and is the patron saint of people born under the sign of Libra, Gemini and Aquarius. As for all other signs of the zodiac, the gem either affects them to a small extent or has no effect at all.

Prices for charoite products

The cost of charoite depends on the size and type of stone. For example, the price of 1 kg of semi-precious stone is $30-150. A small polished crystal is estimated at $3-7 per carat.

The most expensive products made from charoite are large; the cost of a table clock made from this mineral exceeds $1000, and a massive vase made from charoite costs even more than $10. The sale of products of this kind is carried out exclusively by large auctioneers.

Interesting facts about charoite:

• When heated to a temperature of 1000° C, charoite turns into “glass” balls, but the mineral retains its color.
• Some samples of charoite may contain the radioactive element thorium, so all jewelry and souvenirs made from this stone are usually tested for radioactivity. Charoite, which contains a large amount of thorium, can be harmful to health if it comes into contact with human skin for a long time.

Today I want to raise a very important topic related to charoite and its new imitation.

First, let’s talk about natural charoite (some people already know all this, but others will be interested in learning new information) –

Charoite is a stone so rare that it is mined in only one deposit on the planet. It is not surprising that they were able to discover it only half a century ago, although geologists estimate the age of the gems at one and a half hundred million years. The properties of the stone are just being studied, so it can still surprise everyone who is interested in mineralogy.

HISTORY

The history of the gem is short, but unusual. Ancient scientists and magicians did not write treatises on the properties of the stone; jewelry with charoite was not found in the tombs of powerful rulers. The mineral was discovered only in 1948, when Soviet geologist V.G. Ditmar explored the Murunsky ridge in Yakutia.

On the banks of an unnamed stream, which is now named after him, Dietmar found strange purple crystals. He considered them a type of serpentine and did not attach any importance. Only in 1960, experts from the USSR Academy of Sciences noticed that the Yakut find in its properties was very far from all known rocks.

In the seventies, the charoite stone, which was then simply called lilac slate, began to be studied by another scientist, Yuri Gavrilovich Rogov. He discovered 15 deposits of the gem near the place where Dietmar found the first specimen of the new mineral.

At the same time, Rogov was sent to France. At the Mineralogical Museum of the Louvre, he turned to leading foreign experts. But they also turned out to be powerless, simply repeating the conclusion of their Soviet colleagues. The properties of the find had no analogies with any other known stone. This finally convinced the scientist that he and Ditmar had discovered a new rock unknown to science.

Where is charoite mined?

The Murun massif, where the only charoite deposit on planet Earth is located, is a unique place. Many generations of geologists have defended their dissertations on this mountain system and the rare rocks with unique properties found there. Many of the stones mined here are found only in two or three regions of the planet. But charoite was no longer found anywhere else, even in the form of inclusions in other rocks.

SO, LET’S MOVE ON TO NEW TYPES of “fake” charoite.

A special close-up shot, where you can see a pattern that is not typical for charoite, dark areas and parallel, as if hand-drawn lines, which are not characteristic of natural stone.

Does it really look like Extra class charoite at a high cost from afar?

Similar, but! very important – charoite has a play of light, play and glare due to its structure. But real charoite doesn’t have it, it doesn’t shimmer at all, and all these stripes and patterns turn out to be not so beautiful up close.

If you bought charoite and don’t know – is it natural?

Pay attention to its weight – the fake is very light compared to stones. And also on thermal conductivity – natural stone will remain cool in your hands for a long time, but synthetics will immediately become warm.

If you don’t mind, then try heating it with fire (a gas burner will be ideal), the synthetic imitation will immediately begin to melt, turn black and, of course, smell unpleasant.

– buy stone from trusted sellers

– if there are none yet – do not hesitate to ask additional questions to the seller, ask for additional photos, best of all, a video – it will be able to convey the shimmer and shine of natural stone

– look at the price! It won’t always help, of course, but an extra class bead cannot cost less than a class B bead of the same size.

– buying synthetic beads does not mean bad. Sometimes imitations of stones are more interesting than the stones themselves, but it is important not to be deceived!