Shungite
Rock
Published: June 2014
Modified: March 2023
Originally found around Lake Onega in Shun'ga area in Russia. Shungite is highly condensed carbonaceous mineraloid that is steely black in appearance. The name is also used for rocks that contain shungite. Due to its high carbon content shungite is used for water purification. It has been used as a folk medicine for several hundred years.
General Information
Common Name
Shungite
Species
Rock
Transparency
Opaque
Refractive Index
Over The Limit
Optic Character
NA
Hardness
3.5-4
Specific Gravity
2.2000000000000002
Toughness
Poor
Inclusions
Carbonates, clay, quartz and pyrite.
Luster
Metallic, Dull
Fracture
Conchoidal
Chemistry Classification
Mineraloid
Shungite Colors
-
Black -
Gray
Countries of Origin
Austria; Russian Federation; Unknown; United States of America; Congo (the Democratic Republic of the); India
History
Peter the Great believed in the water purifying properties of shungite that he built thermal baths on the shungite stone deposits in Karelia, Russia.
Care
Gentle care, moderately soft. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners