Charoite
Russia
28.22 carats
© gemselect.com
Charoite has deep violet to lilac colour, depending on accompanying minerals it can be white- or black-spotted or flamed.
Charoite produces attractive cabochons and ornaments, it can be fashioned into beads.
Charoite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Charoite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Charoite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:1.20 cts
Heaviest:49.57 cts
Average:20.67 cts
Total photos:14
Do you have a larger Charoite? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Chemical Formula |
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| Physical Properties of Charoite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 5 to 6, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 2.54 to 2.78, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Fair, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Charoite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.545 to 1.560, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Biaxial/+, Gemmological Tables (2004) | |||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.009, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Nil, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Dispersion | Nil, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Violet with white to black swirls, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Translucent,Opaque, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Semi-translucent to opaqueMore from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous,Silky, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Charoite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Monoclinic, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Massive, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | ||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Charoite occurs in potassic feldspar metasomatites at the contact of nepheline and aegririne syenites with limestones.The combination of charoite with some of its associated minerals makes attractive ornaments., Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||||||||||
| Inclusions in Charoite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Flame-like inclusions. The common "charoite" is a rock composed of various minerals (charoite, feldspar, augite, etc) - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 6 Forms an attractive ornametal material together with greenish-black aegirine-augite, orange-gray feldspar (microcline) and orange tinaksite - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Charoite information at mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | ||||||||||||||||||
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