Karelian Shungite vs Colombian Shungite
What Exactly is 'Shungite' from Colombia?
In the last couple of years, a lustrous black stone has appeared on the market described as shungite, claimed to have been mined in Colombia. Until recently, this distinctive material had only been found in Karelia, northwest Russia.
On some websites, the Colombian stone is being sold as 'elite' shungite, which is a trade name for shungite from Russia with the highest percentage of carbon, usually 90–98%.
In a lengthy discussion on Mindat, a respected geological reference site, the two materials were compared. Contributors generally agreed that the material from Colombia does appear to be a natural, carbon-rich stone.
One point raised was electrical resistance, as shungite from Russia is known to conduct an electrical charge. A stone that carries electricity easily has low resistance, meaning electricity can pass through more easily, while one that carries electricity poorly has high resistance.
One contributor shared resistance measurements taken using a basic meter. The Colombian stone showed a resistance of around 8,000 ohms (the unit used to measure electrical resistance), while the Russian shungite showed 6 ohms, which is a significant difference.
Others who have carried out similar tests report resistance values for the Colombian material ranging from the thousands of ohms into the millions, suggesting it has very different electrical conductivity from Karelian shungite.
Therefore, despite the two materials having a very similar appearance, this difference makes it unlikely that their composition and structure are the same.
In one photo that I've seen, the 'shungite' showed exceptional iridescence, but Karelian shungite is not iridescent.
Another point was that shungite from Karelia formed billions of years earlier than the Colombian material. Since geological age affects how carbon materials develop, this age difference is another reason geologists are sceptical.
When another contributor tested Colombian 'shungite' at very high temperatures, it behaved like a relatively pure carbon-rich substance rather than jet or softer bitumen. However, this alone is not enough to confirm it as shungite.
Density testing showed it to be lighter than elite shungite from Karelia, which again suggests it may be a different type of carbon-rich material.
Despite some metaphysical retailers claiming that Colombian shungite is around 95% carbon, there is currently no published, peer-reviewed data confirming its carbon content or chemical composition.
Many listings state the Colombian material is known locally as 'raquirite', and claim it's an alternative name for elite shungite. However, from a geological perspective, there is nothing to support 'raquirite' being a recognised mineral, mineraloid, or rock type.
What is known is that Colombia has large occurrences of natural solid bitumen, commonly referred to in geology as asphaltite. Asphaltite is a recognised term for a naturally occurring, hardened hydrocarbon material that is typically:
- black and glossy
- brittle, with a conchoidal fracture
- relatively low in density, so it's lightweight
These physical attributes closely match the material being sold as raquirite (Colombian shungite) and shungite from Karelia.
Based on currently available geological information, asphaltite is the closest known substance that matches the appearance and physical properties of the material from Colombia.
What the Geological Data Does Support
Scientific and technical studies confirm that Colombia hosts natural asphalt and asphaltite deposits, particularly in regions such as Santander and Boyacá. These areas are often mentioned in articles about 'raquirite', or Colombian shungite.
Most published work on these materials is engineering-focused rather than mineralogical. It tends to examine asphaltite in terms of physical properties and industrial use, rather than crystal structure or formal classification. Even so, it clearly establishes that solid, naturally occurring hydrocarbon materials are geologically plausible in this location.
What these studies do not do is link this material to Karelian shungite or describe it as shungite under a different name. By claiming that raquirite is an alternative name for elite shungite, it's effectively being presented as the same material, with a similar carbon content.
Colombian Shungite: What to Be Aware of
Karelian shungite has never been cheap, and prices haven't gone down. Yet some stones being sold as elite shungite are cheaper than what we were paying to local suppliers back in 2012.
The ongoing political situation between Russia and Ukraine has led to trade restrictions, including strict import controls and high tariffs, making it almost impossible to buy directly from Karelia.
PayPal has also withdrawn its services, further complicating any opportunity to do business with Russia. Despite this, there's no shortage of elite shungite online.
This raises an obvious question: where is it coming from? Some material is known to be passing through countries with fewer trade restrictions, such as China, but I believe it's also plausible that Colombian shungite has entered the supply chain, and some has been labelled as originating from Russia.
I have also noticed that some retailers are not stating the origin of the stones.
Shungite from Colombia is significantly cheaper, which would explain the low price. However, I have also seen material, clearly not from Karelia, priced at levels consistent with material from this source.
It's also worth bearing in mind that fake shungite has been identified. A common practice in China is mixing genuine material with fake, making testing and verifying individual stones far more difficult.
If Colombian shungite is being sold as Karelian, it creates a serious problem. With the two materials looking so similar, the only reliable way to tell one from the other would be through laboratory testing.
Some buyers may be able to test stones for electrical conductivity, but the average consumer is unlikely to have the means or the expertise to do so.
In practical terms, this means it's more important than ever to purchase from a supplier who is open and transparent about where their material has been sourced. Likewise, retailers have a responsibility to be honest about the origin of their stones.
A particularly important issue is that Colombian shungite should not be used for water purification, due to a lack of trustworthy information about its composition or suitability.
If stones are being used in alternative therapies such as crystal healing, any properties attributed to shungite from Karelia cannot be assumed to apply to stones from Colombia.
