Opaque stone with swirling patterns of differing purple tones, a few translucent zones due to feldspar crystals and some greenish black aegirine-augite crystals within the stone.
With a hardness of 5-6, this stone is suitable for necklaces, earrings and brooches but care should be taken when working with the stone and when considering its use in rings, bracelets and cufflinks due to its fair toughness and fair to good cleavage.
Charoite was first discovered in the 1940s and is only found in the Chara river area of Russia, from where it gets its name. A rock, like lapis lazuli, the swirling patterns of varying hues of purple and violet charoite mineral, sometimes interspersed with black aegirine-augite or pale greenish-grey feldspar crystals, are due to the complex, interlocking patterns of its fibrous crystals.
Hardness – resistance to scratching and wear
Stability – resistance to alteration by light, heat or chemicals
Toughness – resistance to fracture, cleavage or cracking
Please note you will receive the stone in the photograph