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Charoite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  K(Ca,Na)₂Si₄O₁₀(OH,F) • H₂O

Discovered in 1947 ;   IMA status: Valid (IMA approved 1987)
Charoite is named for the impression that it gives: "chary" in Russian means "charms" or "magic." This is due to its beautiful chatoyance which makes a well polished cabochon look alive with swirling colors and optical effects.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.35-50

8 : Silicates
F : Inosilicates (chain and band) double chains [Si2O6]4-
35 : Ashcroftine-(Y) series

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Fibrous, massive

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Good in three directions

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

5.0 - 6.0

Hardness (Vickers):

VHN₅₀=412 (kg/mm²⁾

Density:

2.54 - 2.58 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

Weakly Fluorescent; pale Blue under SW UV and LV UV

Radioactivity:

Barely Detectable, GRapi = 10.69 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Optical Properties

Color:

Shades of deep lilac to violet

Transparency:

Translucent to Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous to Pearly

Refractive Index:

1.550 - 1.559  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.0090

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

X = rose; Z = colorless, in thick fragments

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In potassic feldspar metasomatites at the contact of nepheline and aegirine syenites with limestones.

Type Locality:

Murunskyi Massif, Chara River (Charo River), Davan, Torgo River Basin, Aldan Shield, Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia

Year Discovered:

1947; IMA approved 1987

View mineral photos:

Charoite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Charoite is found only in the Murun Massif, Chara River tarea of the Torgo River Basin, Aldan Shield, Southwest Yakutia (Sakha Republic), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia (in other words; very far away from anything else!). It was discovered in 1947, but was not known in the west until about 1978. This beautiful mineral has swirling colors of purple and lavender with swirls of white Feldspar and occassional yellow crystals of Tokkoite, orange crystals of Tinaksite, pale greenish gray Microline, and black crystals of Aegirine-Augite mixed in. Some specimens are beautifully chatoyant. The mineral is a massive material suitable for making large objects such as bookends and vases and also for cabochons.

Many think the name is from its location of first discovery, the Chara River area. The Chara River is actually 70 km away from the discovery location. It is really named for the impression that it gives: "chary" in Russian means "charms" or "magic." This is due to its beautiful chatoyance which makes a well polished cabochon look alive with swirling colors and optical effects.
 

  
Charoite gems for sale:

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