Charoite

Short description: Rare silicate mineral

Charoite

General
Category| Silicate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)| K(Ca,Na)2Si4O10(OH,F)•H2O
Crystal system| Monoclinic
Crystal class| Prismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space group| P21/m
Identification
Color| Violet, lilac, light brown
Crystal habit| Fibrous, massive
Cleavage| Good in three directions
Fracture| Conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness| 5 - 6
|re|er}}| Vitreous to pearly
Streak| White
Diaphaneity| Translucent
Specific gravity| 2.54 - 2.58
Optical properties| Biaxial (+)
Refractive index| nα = 1.550
nβ = 1.553
nγ = 1.559
Birefringence| 0.009
Ultraviolet fluorescence| Weakly fluorescent
Common impurities| Al, Fe, Mn, Sr, Ba
Other characteristics|  Radioactive 10.69% (K)
References| [1][2][3][4]

Charoite K(Ca,Na)2Si4O10(OH,F)•H2O is a rare silicate mineral, first described in 1978. It is named after the Chara River, despite its being 70 km away from the discovery place; the name of the river translated from Evenki means “to melt, melt.”[6][2] When it was discovered, it was thought to be a fake, dyed purple to give it its striking appearance.[7]

## Contents

* 1 Properties
* 2 Occurrences
* 3 Marketing and uses
* 4 Gallery
* 5 References

## Properties

Charoite is translucent lavender to purple in color with a pearly luster. Charoite is strictly massive in nature, and fractures are conchoidal. It has an unusual swirling, fibrous appearance, sometimes chatoyant, and that, along with its intense color, can lead many to believe at first that it is synthetic or enhanced artificially. Though reportedly discovered in the 1940s, it was not known to most of the world until its description in 1978. It is said to be opaque and unattractive when found in the field; a fact that may have contributed to its late recognition.[4] Charoite consists of oxygen (43.75%), silicon (27.65%) and calcium (17.53%) mainly, but its composition includes potassium (10.69%) - which gives it its radioactive properties - and hydrogen (0.39%) as well. It has a barely detectable, 0.65% radioactivity concentration per Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units.[2]

Inclusions mainly come in the swirly patterns of the mineral.[8] The black spots on some specimens are either augite or aegirine, the latter occurring in almost all charoites since they commonly grow together. Larger round greenish spots are feldspar. Lighter colored stones or ones with translucent areas are likely due to canasite. The yellowish brown spots are tinaksite, which was discovered at the same time as charoite was. Charoite's silky, fibrous structure results in a shimmery looking polished stone. Sometimes, the very white flashes are tiny white feldspar.[7] Sugilites and charoites can be confused, as both are purple, and sugilite can have black and white inclusions, however sugilite lacks the swirling pattern that are present in charoite stones, and it also lacks the chatoyant effect.[8]

## Occurrences

It has been reported only from the Aldan Shield, Sakha Republic, Siberia, Russia. It is found where a syenite of the Murun Massif has intruded into and altered limestone deposits producing a potassium feldspar metasomatite,[4] and forms between 200 - 250 °C.[2] Tinaksite, canasite and charoite are associated and black aegirine is also common where these three minerals grow. Common impurities include aluminium, iron, manganese, strontium and barium.[7] Charoitite is a rock like lapis lazuli, but unlike the latter one, charoitite mostly consists of the mineral charoite.[9]

## Marketing and uses

When it arrived to the western market, it was already named charoite. Common tradenames include charoite jade and lilac stone. Although considering its rarity and only type locality, even the highest quality charoite gemstones cost only a few dollars a carat, usually costing between 1.10 - $3 per carat.[9][10] In its price, color and chatoyancy are the main factors. Chatoyant translucent varieties are the most sought after, as while chatoyancy already being uncommon in the mineral, translucent varieties are rarer than the more common opaque ones.[8] Alongside jewelry, due to the fact that the material can be massive in size, charoite can be used in the making of bookends, vases, goblets, boxes, or in small statues. Despite its relatively high hardness, it makes poor center pieces in rings and in bracelets. As it is a heat sensitive mineral, the mechanical cleaning of it should be avoided. It is recommended to use mild detergents and soft brushes or a cloth to clean it, and to never use strong and toxic detergents on it.[8][9]

## Gallery

* Charoitite, a charoite-dominated potassic metasomatite rock from the type area. Photo is 5.7 cm wide.

* Charoite postage stamp, 2000, from a series commemorating "300 Years of Mining and Geological Service in Russia."

## References

1. ↑ Mineralienatlas
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Barthelmy, David (2014). "Charoite Mineral Data". http://www.webmineral.com/data/Charoite.shtml.
3. ↑ Charoite, MinDat.org, http://www.mindat.org/show.php?id=972
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C. (2005). "Charoite". Mineral Data Publishing. http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/charoite.pdf.
5. ↑ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode: 2021MinM...85..291W.
6. ↑ Ian Frazier, Travels in Siberia, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York (NY), 2010, ISBN 978-0-374-27872-4, page 394
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Charoite Meaning, History and Detailed Information with Photos" (in en). https://capecodcrystals.com/pages/charoite.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "What is Charoite? – A Complete Buying Guide | Jewelry Guide" (in en-US). https://www.jewelryshoppingguide.com/what-is-charoite-gemstone/.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Charoite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information" (in en). https://www.gemsociety.org/article/charoite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/.
10. ↑ "Charoite Information - Gorgeous purple gemstone from Siberia" (in en). https://gemselect.com/gem-info/charoite/charoite-info.php.

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Gemstones

Gemmological classifications by E. Ya. Kievlenko (1980), updated

Jewelry stones|

| 1st order|

* Diamond
* Ruby
* Emerald
* Blue Sapphire
* Alexandrite
* Natural marine pearls

|

2nd order|

* Pink sapphire
* Demantoid
* Tsavorite
* Spinel
* Precious Black Opal
* Tanzanite

3rd order|

* Yellow, Green, Violet Sapphires
* Aquamarine
* Orange topaz (Imperial)
* Rubellite
* Precious White and Fire Opal

4th order|

* Tourmaline — Verdelite
* Indicolite, polychromous
* Beryl]] — Heliodor, pink, yellow-green
* Topaz yellow, blue, pink
* Peridot
* Garnets — Spessartine (malaya), Rhodolite, Almandine, Pyrope
* Amethyst
* Citrine
* Blue Turquoise

Jewelry-Industrial
stones|

| 1st order|

* Lazurite
* Jadeite
* Nephrite
* Malachite
* Amber (Baltic amber)
* Chrysoprase
* Charoite

|

2nd order|

* Agate
* Amazonite
* Rhodonite
* Colorless, smoky and pink quartz
* Hematite
* Common opal
* Opaque iridescent feldspars

Industrial stones|

* Jasper
* Graphic granite
* Petrified wood
* Cacholong (Porouse opal)
* Marble onyx
* Obsidian
* Listwanite (green mica)
* Jet
* Selenite
* Fluorite
* Serpentinite
* Aventurine quartzite
* Ophicalcite (Serpentine/Calcite)
* Pagodite (Pyrophyllite/Talc)

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