The
Mineral CHAROITE
- Chemistry: K(Na, Ca)11(Ba, Sr)Si18O46(OH, F)-nH2O, Hydrated Potassium Sodium Calcium Barium Strontium Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride.
- Class: Silicates
- Subclass: Inosilicates
- Uses: an ornamental stone and also as gemstones.
Specimens
Charoite is an unsual mineral and of rare occurence. It is found to date in only one location: along the Chary River at Aldan in Russia. It formed from alteration of limestones by the close presences of an alkali-rich nephline syenite intrusion. The heat, pressure and more importantly, the infusion of unique chemicals into the rock is responsible for the transformations into new minerals such as charoite. Why charoite has not been found in other locations is not fully understood. But it is probably due to a combination of a chemically unique limestone reacting with a chemically unique intrusion and subjected to unique physical conditions.
Charoite is used as an ornamental stone and as a gemstone. It forms a swirling pattern of interlocking crystals. The color of charoite is described as a stunning lavender, lilac, violet and/or purple. All can be used as all are probably present in every swirling example. The look of charoite is unlike any other mineral and can't be mistaken. It has the appearance of purple marble, but really defies description. Its popularity would probably be much greater if not for its "synthetic" character. It simply looks unnaturally beautiful.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Color is white, lavender, lilac, violet and/or purple.
- Luster vitreous to pearly.
- Transparency transparent to translucent.
- Crystal System: monoclinic
- Crystal Habit is of fibrous interlocking crystal masses.
- Cleavage is not observed since it is exclusively massive.
- Fracture conchoidal.
- Hardness 5
- Specific Gravity is approximately 2.5 - 2.8 (average)
- Streak is pale purple.
- Notable Occurrence is solely the Chary River at Aldan in Russia.
- Best Field Indicators are color, locality and habit.
 Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery MINERALS |
CHAROITE specimen chr-1
$ 25.00
$ 25.00
Dims: 3.1" x 1.2" x 0.3"(7.9 x 3.0 x 0.8 cm)
Wt: 26.4 g
Murun, Siberia, Russia
Named after its only locality along the Chary River in Russia, this Charoite specimen is not necessarily the choice for a mineral collector looking for crystal form; after all, Charoite doesn't ever occur in individual crystals. Besides, this specimen is polished on one side. However, it does make for a lovely specimen for someone that wants a piece to "round out" their collection, and it's perfect for a pocket stone or "worry" stone. Its polished face enables one to see the violet-to-lavender swirling beauty of its fibrous, interlocking crystals- a budding lapidarist can shape this stone into one or more flat cabochons to be wire-wrapped or set. Someone without that skill can do a simple wrapping job with a leather cord to make a rustic necklace that can be employed for its metaphysical healing properties. This makes for a very versatile piece!
chr-1 ($ 25.00)
Murun, Siberia, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-2
$ 26.00
$ 26.00
Dims: 3.0" x 1.6" x 0.2" (7.6 x 4.1 x 0.5 cm)
Wt: 24.6 g
Murmansk Massif, Siberia, Russia
This Charoite specimen consists of a partially cut and polished slab. One of the two main, opposing faces is polished to a high gloss, and the other has been sanded smooth but not polished. Two other straight edges have been cut into the narrow slab- these are also sanded but not polished. The rest of the surfaces show the natural, uneven texture of broken rock. The material has a moderate lavender-violet coloration and shows patterns which suggest a compact, fibrous habit. A small portion of the slab has been broken but is not completely separated from the majority of the material (likely due to its fibrous nature). There is a small amount of a golden-colored material present with the Charoite. I would guess that it is either tinaksite or fedorite (likely fedorite). Besides this material, there is no attached host rock.
chr-2 ($ 26.00)
Murmansk Massif, Siberia, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-3
$ 32.00
$ 32.00
Dims: 2.8" x 1.9" x 0.2" (7.1 x 4.8 x 0.5 cm)
Wt: 1.03 oz. (29.3 g)
Murmansk Massif, Siberia, Russia
This Charoite specimen is in the form of another slab, one of whose main faces is polished to a bright sheen. Two thin faces have been cut into its sides, but these, like the other large face, have been sanded but not polished. The material has a moderate lavender-to-violet coloration and its visual texture suggests a very fibrous habit. There are a few patches of discoloration in the material that suggest the presence of other minerals, but these are small and rather difficult to define.
chr-3 ($ 32.00)
Murmansk Massif, Siberia, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-4
$ 75.00
$ 75.00
Dims: 2.7 x 2.3 x 1.1" (6.9 x 5.7 x 2.9 cm)
Wt: 4.1 oz. (117 g)
Murmansk Massif, Siberia, Russia
This lovely hand specimen consists of a partly-cut, partly-polished chunk of Charoite. It shows the standard massive, semi-fibrous habit and pale violet-lavender color of its species. The uncut portions have a dull, waxy luster, but the cut face has been polished to a high gloss.
chr-4 ($ 75.00)
Murmansk Massif, Siberia, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-5
$ 60.00
$ 60.00
Dims:4.6x3.3x0.2" (11.7x8.4x0.5 cm)
Wt: 4.9oz. (140g)
River Tchara, Sacha, Russia
This specimen consists of a slab of charoite, with minor calcite and tinaksite, cut and polished on all six sides. There is also a black crystalline mineral here that I cannot identify (pyroxene, perhaps?). The calcite and tinaksite are quite translucent. The charoite is a beautiful pale lavender to violet color. There is no damage to this specimen.
chr-5 ($ 60.00)
River Tchara, Sacha, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-6
$ 50.00
$ 50.00
Dims:4.7x4.0x0.2" (11.9x10.1x0.5 cm)
Wt: 5.8oz. (164g)
River Tchara, Sacha, Russia
This specimen is a slab of charoite, cut and polished on five sides. The sixth side is rough, and daubed with red paint. There is minor calcite, tinaksite, and an unidentified black mineral (possibly pyroxene) in this specimen, as well. The calcite and tinaksite are translucent. There is no damage to this specimen.
chr-6 ($ 50.00)
River Tchara, Sacha, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-8
$ 60.00
$ 60.00
Dims: 3.93x3.67x0.68" (9.98x9.32x1.72cm)
Wt: 5.62oz (159g)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
This specimen is a mass of intergrown charoite and quartz, polished to a high gloss on one side. The charoite is a lovely purple in color and is opaque and has a dull luster (except where polished). The quartz is translucent, with enough clarity to reveal inclusions of charoite in a myriad of tiny wispy filaments, enough to color the quartz somewhat purple.
chr-8 ($ 60.00)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-9
$ 45.00
$ 45.00
Dims: 3.54x1.36x1.28" (8.99x3.46x3.26cm)
Wt: 3.32oz (94.0g)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
This is an exceptional specimen of charoite. It is composed primarily of charoite, with the usual lavender color, polished on one side to a high gloss. There are multiple crystal clusters of aegirine (black and opaque), with a radial growth pattern. And this specimen boasts the largest and nicest crystals of the rare mineral tinaksite that I have yet seen. These measure over 4cm in length, and are transparent and amber colored. They have a pearly luster, and have enough internal fractures to preclude seeing through the tinaksite. Unfortunately, the crystals are incomplete, and the visible surfaces are likely all cleavage (splintery) or fracture surfaces.
chr-9 ($ 45.00)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-11
$ 32.00
$ 32.00
Dims: 2.64x2.02x0.55" (6.71x5.14x1.40cm)
Wt: 1.63oz (46.2g)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
This Tchara River specimen displays four minerals common to this location. It is mostly charoite in pretty shades of purple, with a lot of aegirine providing a nice contrast. There are also a few crystals of golden tinaksite, and some quartz. One side of the specimen has been polished to a high gloss, exposing the end of a tinaksite crystal that is most visible on the reverse. Its translucent nature allow light to show through the specimen. The aegirines (from the back side) show a pattern of radial crystal growth - one cluster is especially nice.
chr-11 ($ 32.00)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-12
$ 27.00
$ 27.00
Dims: 2.84x2.05x1.03" (7.22x5.21x2.62cm)
Wt: 2.57oz (72.8g)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
This charoite specimen has been left in a rough state, although it does have several clusters of aegirine, two of which are very nice. The charoite has been picked away from these, exposing their radial structure. The charoite has a rather pale purple color, the individual crystals are small and opaque, and the luster appears dull. Most surfaces display a splintery fracture.
chr-12 ($ 27.00)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-10
$ 35.00
$ 35.00
Dims: 2.71x2.64x1.51" (6.88x6.72x3.84cm)
Wt: 4.17oz (118g)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
This specimen is mostly intergrown crystals of light purple charoite. The charoite has a silky luster, and the fibers are arrayed in small clusters that appear to bend and swirl. One side of the specimen has been cut and polished - the colors are more intense on that side. Another side has excellent color, while the opposite side appears weathered and nearly gray. There are also several small golden crystals of tinaksite, plus many clusters of black aegirine, only a few of which display a good radial structure.
chr-10 ($ 35.00)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-14
$ 42.00
$ 42.00
Dims: 2.62x2.26x0.48" (6.65x5.74x1.21cm)
Wt: 1.63oz (46.2g)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
This is a very pretty and colorful specimen of charoite and aegirine, with liberal amounts of quartz and a few crystals of tinaksite as well. The charoite is a light and bright purple, and shows a fibrous structure with chatoyance in a few areas. On the polished side of the specimen, the aegirines appear as opaque black areas, while on the rough side their true form of dense parallel acicular bundles, some showing hints of a radial origin. The golden tinaksite also shows a fibrous structure, but the best part of the specimen is the bright swirls of purple charoite as revealed by a loupe.
chr-14 ($ 42.00)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-13
$ 81.00
$ 81.00
Dims: 3.17x2.68x0.81" (8.04x6.80x2.05cm)
Wt: 3.53oz (100.2g)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
This specimen contains roughly equal amounts of purple charoite, black aegirine, golden tinaksite, and white quartz. The charoite has a fibrous structure, and under a loupe it divides and swirls like streams joining to form a river.
chr-13 ($ 81.00)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
CHAROITE specimen chr-15
$ 25.00
$ 25.00
dims mm=66.42x55.81x19.14
wt g=71.8
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia
This specimen is mostly charoite, although it is in various shades from a pretty and medium deep purple to a very plae, nearly white. It shows characteristic luster, and the best crystals are somewhat translucent.
chr-15 ($ 25.00)
Tchara River, Sacha, Russia