CHAROITE
K(Na, Ca)11(Ba, Sr)Si18O46(OH, F)-nH2O
Hydrated Potassium Sodium Calcium Barium Strontium Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride
| Charoite was discovered in Russia
in 1978 and is named for the Charo River near where it was found. The
colors in each piece range from bright lavender, violet and lilac to dark
purple with both white, gray and black veining.. It ranges from 5 - 6 on
the MOH'S scale. Charoite is an unusual mineral and of rare occurrence. It is found to date in only one location: along the Chary River at Aldan in Russia. It formed from alteration of limestone. The heat, pressure and more importantly, the infusion of unique chemicals into the rock is responsible for the transformations into new minerals such as charoite. |
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These two photos are of the "front" and "back" of the same sphere. |
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