Shungite
Shungite Products
Global Mining Sites
This used to be known as a rare stone, but in the last few years it has become more easily available. It is mostly found in Northwest Russia, where the largest and oldest source of Shungite lies, with other deposits reported in Austria, India, Kazakhstan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
History
The origin of this 2 billion year old Shungite stone is clouded in mystery. Some say this stone may have been formed in ancient oceans. Other scientists hypothesize that maybe it came to earth from outer space on a meteorite.
Used for centuries, Shungite has long been considered a stone for healing, with Peter the Great of Russia using it in his spa to purify water. It was even used for medical treatment dating back to the mid-1700’s.
Appearance
Shungite is technically not a crystal but a mineraloid (like amber, opal, or obsidian), due to its structure. This stone is typically black but can range to a deep bronze color. It’s opaque, but can have a shiny quality, making it look lustrous and metallic.
The highest quality, or “Elite Shungite,” is made up of at least 90% carbon, shiny silver in appearance. The medium quality is called “Petrovsky Shungite”, consisting of 50 to 70% carbon and grey in colour. “Regular Shungite” is industrially mined, matte black, and 30 to 50% carbon.
