The facts
What charoite actually is
Mineralogically, charoite is charoite — K(Ca,Na)₂Si₄O₁₀(OH,F)·H₂O, crystallising in the monoclinic system.
The colour is caused by manganese. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.550–1.559, and the specific gravity sits near 2.54–2.78; cleavage is good, three directions.
Where charoite comes from
The recognised sources are Murun massif, Sakha, Russia — the only locality on earth.
One source only — which is unusual, and which means an origin claim naming anywhere else is either a mistake or a different material.
Is charoite treated?
None normally.
That makes disclosure simple: there is nothing to declare. It also means a seller offering a "treated" version of this material is offering something else.
What charoite is confused with
The usual confusions are Sugilite, Dyed marble and Lepidolite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.550–1.559 and specific gravity 2.54–2.78 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What charoite is used for
Charoite is bought by decorative objects, architecture and interiors, jewellery and mineral collecting — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the piece, by the square metre or by the carat.
Durability and care
Hardness 5–6; cleavage good, three directions. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What charoite costs
Indicative pricing for charoite is $1–40/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is charoite treated?
None normally.
Where does charoite come from?
Murun massif, Sakha, Russia — the only locality on earth. That is the only commercial source.
Is charoite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5–6 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does charoite cost?
Indicatively $1–40/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is charoite confused with?
Most often Sugilite, Dyed marble and Lepidolite. A refractive index of 1.550–1.559 and a specific gravity near 2.54–2.78 separate it quickly.
What is charoite used for besides jewellery?
decorative objects, architecture and interiors and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for charoite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about charoite