Facts on Charoite

Charoite is used as an ornamental stone and as a gemstone. It forms a swirling pattern of interlocking crystals.

	Color	is white, lavender, lilac, violet and/or purple.
	Luster	vitreous to pearly.
	Transparency	transparent to translucent.
	Crystal System:	monoclinic
	Crystal Habit	is of fibrous interlocking crystal masses.
	Cleavage	is not observed since it is exclusively massive.
	Fracture	conchoidal.
	Hardness	5
	Specific Gravity	is approximately 2.5 - 2.8 (average)
	Streak	is pale purple.
	Notable Occurrence	is solely the Chary River at Aldan in Russia. Discovered in 1978 in the Murun mountains in Yakutia. Named after the nearby Charo River.
	Best Field Indicators	are color, locality and habit.