Shungite

Shungite is a matt black, carbon-rich rock found near Lake Onega in the Karelia region of Russia. It formed about 2 billion years ago from organic-rich sediments that were later transformed, and it is named after the village of Shunga. It is not graphite; it is a mixture of carbon and finely dispersed silicate minerals. In recent years it has been sold with claims such as “absorbs 5G radiation” and “purifies water”; there is no evidence to support these claims.

Paint pigment: used as a black pigment in paints since the middle of the 18th century, and sold as “shungite natural black” or “carbon black”. Insulating material: in the 1970s an insulating material called “shungisite” was produced by heating shungite-bearing rocks. Industry: Russian sources list shungite as a material used in construction, metallurgy and water filtration. Ornaments: polished pieces and small decorative objects are made; most are sold with the health claims discussed below.

It has a hardness of 3.5–4 on the Mohs scale. A fingernail cannot scratch it, but a steel knife can. Its specific gravity is 1.8–2.84 g/cm³.

Its best-known localities: Zaonezhye (northwest of Lake Onega), Karelia, Russia; Vozhmozero, Karelia, Russia.

It is matt black and at first sight looks like coal or graphite; some pieces are shinier, others completely dull. It is soft (Mohs 3.5–4): a copper coin marks it faintly and a steel blade scratches it easily. When broken it gives curved, shell-like surfaces. Rubbed on a ceramic plate, it leaves a grey-black streak. Graphite: much softer than shungite (1–2); it leaves a dark grey mark on fingers and paper and feels slippery. Shungite is not graphite.

On the “street to diamond” value ladder it sits on step 3 of nine: Building and industrial stone. The price of shungite is set mostly by demand created by health claims, not by the stone’s real properties. In industry its value depends on carbon content, the purity of the rock and the size of the deposit: carbon-rich “elite” types are more sought after. For ornamental and collector pieces, lustre, size and workmanship matter. Be careful with pieces whose origin (Karelia) is undocumented or that cannot be told apart from other black stones.

It is reported that in Russia shungite has been used in folk medicine since the 18th century, and that Peter the Great founded Russia’s first spa in Karelia, where water was believed to be purified by shungite. Today crystal-therapy websites and sellers claim that shungite absorbs or neutralises the electromagnetic “radiation” of devices such as phones, Wi-Fi and 5G. The same sources say that shungite purifies water, cleanses the body of toxins and reduces inflammation, often linking these effects to the fullerene molecules in the stone. Crystal-therapy sources also claim that shungite reduces stress and anxiety, improves sleep and boosts energy. There is no evidence from studies on people that shungite absorbs phone or 5G waves or protects the wearer, purifies water, reduces inflammation, or improves sleep and mood; only one animal study, in mice exposed to UVB rays, reported reduced inflammation, and it was never tried on humans. “Shungite water” should not be drunk, because the stone can release heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, nickel and arsenic into the water when soaked. Anyone with anxiety, sleeplessness or an illness should see a doctor. This section reports beliefs; it is not health information. There is no scientific evidence for these claims and no stone replaces medical treatment.

Do not soak shungite in water and drink that water. In one study shungite released heavy metals such as nickel, copper, lead, cadmium, zinc, chromium and arsenic into water; lead and cadmium exceeded the accepted drinking-water limit for a few days and nickel for about two weeks.