Charoite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charoite

General
Category	Silicate mineral
Chemical formula	K(Ca;Na)₂Si₄O₁₀(OH;F)·H₂O
Identification
Color	Violet, lilac, light brown
Crystal habit	Fibrous, massive
Crystal system	Monoclinic - Prismatic 2/m
Cleavage	Good in three directions
Mohs Scale hardness	5 - 6
Luster	Vitreous to pearly
Refractive index	nα = 1.550 nβ = 1.553 nγ = 1.559
Optical Properties	Biaxial (+)
Birefringence	δ = 0.009
Streak	White
Specific gravity	2.54 - 2.58
Diaphaneity	Translucent
Other Characteristics	Weakly fluorescent
References	^[1]^[2]^[3]

Charoite (K(Ca;Na)₂Si₄O₁₀(OH;F)·H₂O) is a rare mineral, named for the Chara River (though this etymology is disputed by some), and found only in the Sakha Republic, Siberia, Russia. It is found where a syenite massif has intruded into and altered limestone deposits.^[4]

Charoite is a strong, translucent lavender to purple in color, reminding some of a granite or marble with its pearly, swirling luster. However, it is a discrete mineral rather than a rock. 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, sometimes of a "grape" nature, 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 the outside 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. Charoite is used as an ornamental stone and sometimes a gemstone, generally as cabochons set into pendants.

Russia has fairly strict prohibitions on the exportation of charoite. Generally, charoite is permitted to be exported only after the stone has been worked, for example, into figurines or other type ornaments. It is therefore difficult to procure "unworked" or "rough" charoite in a form suitable for further working into jewelry such as cabochons.^{[citation needed]}

Charoite often contains inclusions of the mineral tinaksite, which appears as a golden, spire-like shape running through the material.