Shungite | The Ultimate Guide and Healing Properties

Hibiscus Moon Crystal Healing, geology, science 185 Comments

Shungite came out on the new age stone-lovers scene several years ago and made quite the big splash. I’m not sure why it suddenly became so popular but it’s not usually listed in the older, more popular crystal property books so people are often left wondering and asking me lots and lots of questions about it.

There are numerous web articles out there that make lots of unfounded claims so I really felt the need to finally get this blog post out there.

[caption id="attachment_16381" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Raw Shungite Stone. By Amrith.de (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons[/caption]
What is this stone?
Estimated to be about 2 BILLION years old, shungite gets its name from its discovery deposit-site near the Shun’ga village in Karelia, Russia and some say can be up to 98% pure carbon. That’s quite pure. 

[caption id="attachment_16379" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Location of Shun’ga village, Karelia, Russia. Credit: Google Maps.[/caption]

Most geologists now agree that the shungite deposit was created by layers upon layers of ancient organic remains, however some claim that it came from a carbon-rich asteroid strike originating from our Solar System’s own asteroid belt.

Hmmm, I do like that last scenario.

A LOT.

(OUTER SPACE!)… but there just isn’t enough geologic evidence supporting that claim at this time. 🙁

[caption id="attachment_11684" align="aligncenter" width="638"] These are 2 shungite pieces from my crystal grid that surrounds my wifi router.[/caption]

Then we have a more PURE form of this stone known as Noble Shungite aka Elite shungite (shown in below photo). Note it has more of that silvery sheen to it.

Expect the Noble variety to be more pricey than the regular kind. It’s all about supply and demand so the more expensive price is due to its rarity. The Noble variety is my preference for putting directly into my water to create healing gem elixirs with because it’s more of a pure carbon form (anywhere from 70% to 95%), so fewer impurities of any other element; thereby getting the energetic job done more efficiently and with less interference.

[caption id="attachment_21080" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Noble Shungite. By MOs810 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons[/caption]
So What’s the Big Deal About Shungite?
There are lots of claims. Let’s break them down.

Some say it can do EVERYTHING and cure ALL.

I’m not going to blindly jump on that bandwagon because, you know, I always like to back up my info with science or other evidence. So I’m only going to list out what I’ve been able to find evidence for (doesn’t mean I’m still not researching and trying out other theories).

So, here’s what I’ve got so far:
1. Water Purifier
FACT: “Shungite is an effective sorbent for removal of organic and inorganic substances, pathogenic bacteria and heavy metals from contaminated water.” ~ as quoted from respected scientific source; Science Direct.

In other words, it purifies water and has anti-bacterial properties.

Apparently, Peter the Great first noticed shungite water’s powerful healing and antifungal + antibacterial properties in the 18th century by testing on it out himself and his soldiers. After getting such amazing results, he decided to set up a spa in Karelia, Russia so others could benefit from it as well. Nice guy. 😉

Spas in the area have been taking wise advantage of the area’s healing waters ever since and coming up with such luxuries, such as trips to natural shungite springs and even serving shungite vein tea with local cowberries plus wild Karelian honey. Yum! I wanna go.

Pure well-washed shungite (not the un-pure varieties that aren’t mostly carbon) is totally safe to put directly in your water-glass. That’s how I get the most benefit from it (easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!)

2. Energy Conductor
FACT: Shungite has a unique property of being able to conduct energy… as I demo for you here in the below video:
Demonstrating Energy Conduction

3. EMF Shield
Another claim is that this stone can neutralize the negative effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

I’ve done some testing and data collection of my own as well as researched what other reliable sources have come up with and…sorry to say …there just isn’t anything (yet) to back this up. I’ve experimented with my own electronics and testing devices to see if I’ve noted anything, but I haven’t been able to come up with any data as of yet.

However, carbon is known for having diamagnetic shielding proprieties (basically this just means it reverses magnetic fields and creates an energy shield). I haven’t been able to gather data on this specifically with this stone. Hopefully, some evidence about its ability to do this will be on its way to us soon.
General Shungite Healing Properties
In working with shungite over the last few years & in hearing from our student body in the Hibiscus Moon Certified Crystal Healer Course, I’ve compiled a list of general shungite properties:

  • aligned with the Earth Star Chakra and Root Chakra
  • very grounding
  • cleansing
  • purifying
  • protective
  • boosts the immune system
  • improves general overall health & vitality
  • transmutes & shields from negativity

Fullerenes?
For quite some time this stone was thought to be the only natural source for fullerenes (carbon nanotubes & spheres with very unique properties) but recent studies have disproved this too. Geez!

Despite that, it’s still obviously a powerful stone to work with.

BEWARE: “Shungite” used to mean that the rock was 98% pure carbon. But recently sellers have taken to applying the name willy-nilly to any rock that has some shungite included.  Not coolio! So, be sure to ask the seller about the purity of their shungite. If they’re not sure, better move on to someone else so that you’re more likely to get the higher quality.

Are you interested in other black stones?  Hop over to this post:  How to Tell the Difference between Black Onyx, Jet, Apache Tear, Black Tourmaline & Black Obsidian

Have you worked with Shungite?  If you have any additional info or stories to share, please post in the comments below! I’d love to hear your take on it.

Crystal Blessings,

Don’t Be Fooled By the Rocks that I Got!…More Crystal Fakes

Hibiscus Moon fakes, geology 30 Comments

Ahhh, I get some sort of wacko geo-geek-high from writing these particular blog posts on “fake crystals” in my Fakes Series! Thanks for letting me indulge myself once again. You can catch my previous posts in this series here:

  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
  • Part 4
  • Part 5

I chose today’s featured fakes b/c these seem to be showing up quite often at the gem shows & in my student forums or in our various Hibiscus Moon Private Facebook Groups. I feel it’s most definitely my duty to keep our community informed on this schist.

Now, if you choose to work with man-made crystals that’s totally fine. No judgements from me on that. I, personally, choose not to.

But, I do think its very important that you know what you’re getting & that you not be fooled & that you KNOW geologically exactly what you’re working with.

BTW, sometimes sellers aren’t looking to purposefully fool anyone…sometimes they themselves have no idea.

So let’s get to it!
Charoite
[caption id="attachment_13417" align="aligncenter" width="600"] High grade authentic charoite from Russia on the left vs. fake Chinese Fluorite (sold as charoite on ebay on the right)[/caption]

BEWARE: Chinese fluorite is being sold as “Chinese Charoite”, claiming a new deposit discovered in China. It’s BOGUS. They really look nothing alike to me so I’m surprised this is actually duping people. Some people have been taking low grade Chinese purple fluorite & polishing it up to sell as dupes. You’ll notice that these “Chinese Charoite” fakes have a lot of white in them & no swirly pattern, in fact the purple layers in these fakes have a very angular pattern to them.

As you can see in the above photo, high grade chaorite is vibrantly purple with very little white + a gorgeous unusual swirly purple pattern. All authentic charoite comes from Russia from the Chara River region. It’s the only place in the world where it’s found & its very rare, hence a hefty price. So price point can be a good indicator of a fake.

[caption id="attachment_13418" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Real high-grade Russian charoite for sale at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show[/caption]

The “Chinese Chaorite” started rearing its head big-time about 5 years ago.

You can determine if your piece is fluorite with a UV light & a scratch test being that charoite is harder than fluorite…(something our Advanced Crystal Masters are well-versed on).
Cinnabar Infused Quartz

Cinnabar crystals also a tough crystal to come by in large quantities or in large pieces. But the fakes? Oh…very easy to come by! I’ve seen many with the name, Cinnabar-Infused Quartz or sometimes they called them cherry + or strawberry quartz (which can also be glass-infused as discussed in Part 1). *Beware the mercury content in cinnabar.*

This very large sphere in the photo below was being sold as “Cinnabar Infused Quartz”!

Although cinnabar & quartz do grow together naturally it’s usually not in a pretty swirl as seen in the above photo.

When it is actually cinnabar, it’s often reconstituted (melted & mixed with other stuffs) with clear quartz & then can have plastics & binders added to it.  Sometimes, the creators of this stuff may even add some selenium (Se) to get a more red crystal.

Here’s my big beef with all of this. If the quartz & cinnabar (if there’s any real cinnabar being added at all) are being reconstituted (hence melted down)…then all you’re doing is  creating man-made silica glass. So this is no longer holding a crystalline molecular structure = IT’S NO LONGER A CRYSTAL.

And all of this may be totally OK with you. I just prefer my crystals to be actual CRYSTALS and to be 100% Mama Earth made.

But that’s just moi.

Goldstone
Goldstone, aka “aventurine glass”, is another man-made glass “gem” that’s been hangin’ around for quite a long time…since the 17th century! It’s very pretty so I can certainly see why. Check this sparkly baby out!!

[caption id="attachment_13419" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Ooooo, Sparkly…but FAKE! (Photo credit: GDK)[/caption]

There’s a legend that this “stone” came about when some Venetian glass-working monks accidentally dumped some molten copper into the melted glass they were working with.

The process is a bit more complicated but here’s what goes into it:

  • After the molten copper is poured into the molten glass …
  • It’s sealed off air-tight & kept at a specific temperature that’s hot enough to maintain in liquid state while still allowing the copper crystals to grow in the solution but not melting back again
  • Then the solution is cooled forming 1 solid mass
  • The cooled mass is broken open for cutting & polishing

The result is teeny crystallized specks of copper strewn throughout the glass, reflecting & sparkling up a storm. Although usually a golden coppery color, I’ve seen “goldstone” come in all colors, based on the elements added in the process.

I’m sure you have many opinions of your own to share about my “Featured Fakes” here today. You know I always welcome a mature & respectful debate, so please do comment below. Or if you’d simply just like to share your thoughts, that’s welcome too!

Have a Sparkly Day!

 

 

How to Grow Your Own Crystal Geodes ~ Step by Step

Hibiscus Moon Crystals, geology, science 14 Comments

When I posted a photo on my FB page of 1 of my recent crystal growing specimens, I got a ton of questions asking how, how, how?

So, if you’re one of those who always wanted to know how to grow your own crystals, this is the blog post for you!

You know I love my crystals for their healing props but I feel it’s really important to also get to know them in a different way; to learn how & why they grow, how Mama Earth cooks them up in her kitchen. This FUN activity gives us a little insight into that process. And you end up with some drop-dead gorgeous crystals in the end!

Plus this gives me a good excuse to geek out all the way!!

I know from many years in my old science classroom days that kids, teenagers (& adults!) really enjoy seeing the crystallization MAGIC at work! So, pretty sure you’re gonna eat this up with a spoon!

So first…

What’s a geode?

Basically, geodes are round rocks that have a hollow interior usually from a gas bubble, in which some sort of usually volcanic  hydrothermal fluids got trapped in. These hollows create the perfect crystal growing environment since they usually contain a supersaturated crystal growing solution (Yes, I know…CRAZY-GEEK-FEST terms! I explain what that  is in the featured video…but, Yo! you’ll love it…that’s a little hint).

Geodes can take thousands or even millions of years to grow…but these babies will only take a couple of days. How lucky are you?!

HOLIDAY VARIATIONS

  • Halloween: how about a fluorescent twist? Just sub the water & food coloring solution with glow water
  • Winter Holidays: grow some snowy white geodes, skip the food coloring & you’ll get clear crystals that will look like clear or milky quartz!
  • Easter/Spring Equinox: just make ’em! Any color, go wild

Oh! In case you didn’t know…I have a slight obsession with the TV show Breaking Bad…just a slight, barely there kind of thing. 😉 Yes, even without TV I managed to get completely addicted to it.
How To Grow Your Own Crystal Geodes – Step by Step

So are you amazed that Mother Earth takes these (yet much more complicated) steps stretched over a longer period of time & creates over 4500 different types of minerals & crystals and has been doing so for the better part of 4.6 billion years!? I KNOW I AM! Completely & totally amazed & respectful of the entire process.

I hope you have a ton fun trying this out all on your own or with your kids or some friends. If you do try it out please post your results on my FB page or comment below & let us know how it worked out or if you discovered any cool tips to share! I’ll add them to this post so all the Crystal Hotties can benefit!

Happy Crystal Growing!!

 

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, please share it along so others can try this out with us & share in the FUN!!

How to Pick Out Crystal Fakes: Part 5

Hibiscus Moon amethyst, Crystals, fakes, geology

So this crystal fakes stuffs is getting to be a popular series here on my blog.

And I’m quite enjoying my role in revealing & educating on the gemmy fakes & frauds that have crossed my path.
You can check out the other parts here:

  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
  • Part 4

Before I get into the fakes & confusers I want to draw attention to in this blog post, there’s a little sumn’ sumn’ I wanna to discuss.

My aim here is NOT to completely remove the romanticism of stones & crystals. You know I’m all about the sparkly, glittery & spiritual side of them! Who do you know that sings their praises more than me?

But it may be time for a wee dose of reality when it comes to realizing that they may not arrive 100% unaltered in our hungry little hands. I’ve already discussed my stance on the ethics of mining crystals and stones here…different topic.

All righty…let’s get into it.

After stones are removed from Mother Earth, they’re usually given an oxalic acid wash to clean them up & make them more visually pleasing. I demonstrate this in a video here:
How I Cleanse My Crystals

Then they may be further altered through cutting, tumbling or polishing.
Many crystals may then go through the lab heating process.

This is often done with amethyst to deepen its color or turn it into citrine.

Some crystals are even artificially irradiated, a completely different process that does indeed alter & change them molecularly. Certain darker blue topaz & dark, almost black yet reasonably priced smoky quartz from Arkansas are common examples of this.

I feel crystals that have been altered in this way have lost their  original base resonant frequency & essential now have a synthetic 1…no bond to how they were originally created; Mother Earth bond lost & so…I don’t work with them.

Just wanted to throw in the above info before we get into a few more fakes and/or confusing names so that we all are aware of what may or may not have been done to our stones. It’s always good to be armed with info, don’t you think?
Lapis Lazuli
This baby is no fake but is one of the most often FAKED stones.

The more high quality variety comes from Afghanistan & Pakistan & is characterized by a deep & vibrant blue color (from lazurite) & highly sought after pyrite flecks. It’s natural good looks make it popular in the jewelry trade but it is more expensive & a bit harder to come by.

[caption id="attachment_9124" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Lapis lazuli from Pakistan. You can easily see the gold pyrite flecks.[/caption]

There’s a less expensive, less dazzling kind available from South America & Russia that has more gray in it is more of a dull blue & lacks the pyrite flecks, so not nearly as sought after.

[caption id="attachment_9122" align="aligncenter" width="601"] This Lapis is from Chile, shows more grey & no pyrite…but its still the real deal.[/caption]

The attractiveness of lapis & ease of “fake-ability” make it 1 to watch out for. Some will even take less expensive or low quality howlite, jasper or sodalite & dye it up to make it that vibrant blue. Sometimes even plastic, resins or glass (either mixed in with lapis lazuli “powder” to make “reconstituted” lapis or pure) will be passed off as the blue stone.

My Tips for Spotting Fake Lapis:

    • Acetone (nail polish remover) will remove the dye from a fake but may also damage the stone so tread lightly
    • If it’s very uniform it may be reconstituted (which is not technically fake but completely altered by man) or plain ole’ plastic, resin or glass
    • Lapis can be confused with sodalite but will have much less white (calcite), if its heavy on the white then pass
    • If it has a lot of grey, it’s mostly like sodalite; if you know how to do a streak test, sodalite will ave a white streak whereas lapis will have a light blue streak
    • Cheap price is usually an indicator of a fake

Gaia Stone aka The Goddess Stone, Helenite, Mt. St. Helen’s Obsidian, Green Obsidian, Blue Obsidian
This stone is purported to be created from melting volcanic ash from the eruption at Mount St. Helen & then shaping it into various forms, possibly mixing it with other resins & binders. Hence…MAN-MADE. Geologists have yet to confirm any naturally formed green or blue glass in this region.

That would be so totally exciting if this Gaia Stone actually happened all on its own…at the hands of Mother Natures, but  is simply not the case. At least we don’t have any evidence yet to prove this.

[caption id="attachment_11513" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Green Obsidian. Thank you to photographer, Susan Jones Gardner Broughton, for sharing her photo.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_11524" align="aligncenter" width="324"] Blue & green obsidian. Thank you to photographer, Jenn Langer for sharing her photo.[/caption]

Here’s the deal. This is scientific fact so there’s no arguing here on this:

The geological definition of obsidian is it’s volcanic glass; that is…glass created by volcanism that forms when molten rock material cools.

Human hands have NADA to do with it.

So, if Mother Earth didn’t fuse it together during a volcanic eruption herself…then it ain’t obsidian.

But many are taking any sort of glass & calling it obsidian. I just think that’s wrong & misleading to misuse the terminology that way.

So is the glass bottle I’m drinking from an obsidian bottle?

Are my windows on my house obsidian? *Need to remember that when I put the house up for sale*:

*Rare Clear Obsidian Windows in all Rooms!*

C’mon. Same goes for the red, orange & yellow obsidians. Mother Earth does make many natural & darker colored obsidians…but not these colors, Lima Bean.

IF evidence ever dos come to light that this was a natural event then I will gladly take back everything I’ve said here & high-tail it to the nearest seller to buy a HUGE honkin’ piece of this…but until then I’m just steering clear.
Anchi Crystals

I included this “crystal” (seems to be a group of many different crystals) b/c I’ve been receiving several frequent questions about it from my students in our Certified Crystal Healer Course. Since the “discoverer” of these Anchi crystals hasn’t disclosed the locality of where these crystals were supposedly found we don’t have much concrete info about them.

So far they’ve only disclosed that they “are found in only one location on the Earth” & that they are a group of over 50 different types of  crystals including opaque or milky quartz & different types of tourmalines. From what I can tell they are a lower quality group of smaller crystals so not very clear & knocked around a bit.

I’m still not clear why this outcrop of crystals deserved a special name all their own (except that they’re trademarked under that name so there’s that ).

I hope this post was helpful to but…as I always say…your intuition should always be your first guide. If a stone or crystal works for you for a particular purpose then don’t let anyone or anything that you read or hear change that for you. For certain people, certain stones may work very well while not work for others no matter what is said or written about them…you keep on doing your thing, Crystal Hottie!

If you have any photos of to share of these stones, please stop by & post them up on my FB Page. I’d love for you to share with the other Crystal Hotties.

Do you have other views & news on the crystals discussed here today or perhaps other fakes or confusers you’d like me to research for a future post? Please let me know in the comments below!

As always, thank you so much for reading & adding your personal sparkle to the convo! ((HUGS))

Crystal Blessings, Jelly Bean!

 

 

P.S. My HIGHLY-requested Ancestor Connection with Crystals eKit is JUST about on sale for an very limited time. I’m also giving away my own personal well-desired Ancestor Anointing Gem Elixir Oil Recipe as a bonus along with the eKit. Details coming soon in my newsletter!