Charoite (Lilac)

About Charoite (Lilac)

The most vividly purple natural stone, found only in Siberia. Fine specimens display swirling patterns of lilac, purple, and lavender with occasional black aegirine and orange tinaksite inclusions. It was discovered in the 1940s but not widely known until the 1970s. It takes an excellent polish. It is used primarily for cabochons and carvings. It is the national stone of Russia. It has chatoyant silky luster from its fibrous structure. It is relatively affordable for such a distinctive stone. It is a potassium barium silicate.