Charoite is the name of a purple to violet silicate mineral with a striking appearance. Its vibrant purple color grabs a person’s attention. Then, upon closer examination, the viewer discovers interesting banding, swirls, scales, or radial and parallel habits.

Many rocks that contain abundant charoite will accept a beautiful polish. As a result, high-quality pieces of charoite can be cut into spectacular purple cabochons, or used as an ornamental stone to veneer a delightful jewelry box. A pearly luster or chatoyance often increases the beauty of this gem.

Charoite is a rare mineral, found in commercial quantities only in a few small and closely spaced deposits in the Sakha Republic of eastern Russia. It received its name from the Chara River, which drains that geographic area.