Unique Russian mineral Charoite was discovered on the banks of an extraordinary river in Eastern Siberia called Chara, in the Chara desert. The river Chara originates on the southern slope of the ridge Udokan, flows through Chara Basin, crossing Kodar (Sakha Republic, Yakutia, Russia). Unreal place – like north and south came together. The Chara desert in Siberia has sandy area basin of 10 km by 5 km. But that’s not all. It is there, in the desert on the banks of the icy turbulent river in 1978 was discovered a beautiful silicate mineral, named for the Chara River. And this field to date remains the only produced in the world.
For the first time blocks with purple minerals were found by geologist V. G. Dietmar in 1948, during the geological survey, and conditionally called them cummingtonite slate. The deposit was found in 1973 by Yu. A. Alekseev and Yu G. Rogov. In the early 1970s began a comprehensive study of the field. Opened by Soviet geologists field is unique: in the world are found neither industrial fields of such species, nor detected deposits containing a single grain of charoite. The name of the new mineral was approved in 1977.
Initially the stone was taken for a variety of coils, but after analyzing the structure of the stone, it turned out that it is absolutely a new mineral, unique in the world.
The lyrics say that this purple stone is really something fascinating, it beckons like the waters of the deep-water river Enchantment.
Sometimes after treatment revealed long, thin veins of honey or dark green in the composition of the stone, which go from one center, forming a beautiful structure. There are examples of the effect of “cat’s eye”. And thanks to the pleasant shade of lilac, some call it “opaque double amethyst.”
Charoite color can range from pale lilac to deep purple. When polished the stone gets a silk gloss inherent Ural malachite.
Charoite is a symbol of hearth and home. If in your house is a stone (miniature, sculpture, jewelry piece) of Charoite, it will always keep the peace and tranquility in the family. A holder of jewelry from charoite will always be surrounded by loved ones and loving people.
However, Charoite did not win worldwide popularity. Widespread of charoite is prevented by the establishment of the Government of the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, limiting the quarrying of 100 tons per year. It is a necessary measure, which protects against rapid drying out of the field. Statistics estimate that there is not more than 0.0016 g of charoite per person on Earth. That’s why every year Charoite is uncontrollably rising in price and becoming more rare.
Charoite – new jewelry and semi-precious stone, which according to its decorative qualities, good polishability has taken a worthy place among such gems as lapis lazuli and jade has long been known to man. History Charoite is just beginning.
