Polished Charoite slab (Type Locality - 35 grams)

Item Description

Beautiful mesmerizing segmented fibrous swirls of violet to lilac charoite artistically course across both sides of the sawed and polished slab on this rich and showy example from the Type Locality in Russia. Charoite is a rare complex silicate first described in 1978 and named after the Chara River. It is caused by intrusive syenite igneous rocks altering limestone deposits. Additional minerals add contrast and color. Lighter areas are translucent with darker areas being opaque. It has a beautiful pearly or chatoyant luster when polished and is very popular in the lapidary, gem and ornamental industry. A fine, rich and colorful piece of this material. 35 grams mass. This is now expensive lapidary material! I have seen cabochons sold by the carat or gram weight.