The market has its share of dyed stones and black plastic passed off as shungite. Five simple tests — above all the conductivity test — let you check for yourself.
Dyed obsidian, black tourmaline, plastic or black-painted resin can all be sold under the name shungite. Fortunately, shungite has a few properties that are hard to fake, and you can check them at home.
Thanks to its high carbon content, real shungite conducts electricity. Set a multimeter to resistance mode (or use a simple circuit with a battery and an LED) and touch both probes to the stone: real shungite conducts, while plastic and dyed stone do not.
Regular shungite is matte black, or glossy black when polished; Elite has a silvery metallic sheen. A black that is “too even” and shines like plastic from every angle is a warning sign.
Real shungite does not fade or colour the water. If the water changes colour or the surface looks blotchy, the stone may have been dyed.
Raw shungite, especially high-carbon types, can leave a light black mark when rubbed on your hand or white paper — like charcoal.
Shungite is lighter than many other stones of the same size (its density is only about 2 g/cm³). A small piece that feels unusually heavy may be a different stone.
Shungite is a carbon-rich rock formed about 2 billion years ago in Karelia, Russia. This article sums up its origin, composition and what to know before you buy.
In 1992, scientists first recorded natural fullerenes in a shungite sample. What does that discovery mean, and why shouldn't it be overstated?
Elite shungite has a silvery sheen and is rare and brittle; regular shungite is matte black, durable and easy to craft. Understand the difference to choose the right piece for you.
Regular shungite is matte black, or glossy black when polished; Elite has a silvery metallic sheen. A black that is “too even” and shines like plastic from every angle is a warning sign.
Real shungite does not fade or colour the water. If the water changes colour or the surface looks blotchy, the stone may have been dyed.
Raw shungite, especially high-carbon types, can leave a light black mark when rubbed on your hand or white paper — like charcoal.
Shungite is lighter than many other stones of the same size (its density is only about 2 g/cm³). A small piece that feels unusually heavy may be a different stone.