Karelian Shungite vs Colombian Shungite
A black, lustrous stone sold as 'Colombian shungite' or 'raquirite' has appeared on the market in the last few years. Based on the available geological evidence, it isn't shungite. The closest known match is asphaltite, a naturally occurring solid bitumen.
Colombian 'shungite' should not be used for water purification.
We have been buying shungite from suppliers in Karelia since 2012. We purchased some Colombian 'shungite' purely so we could compare the two side by side. This article explains our findings.
What Exactly is 'Shungite' from Colombia?
A black stone that I recently discovered, that's claimed to be mined in Colombia, is being described as shungite.
As far as I am aware, Shungite has only been found in Karelia, northwest Russia.
On some websites, the Colombian stone is being labelled 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 to the millions. One retailer testing with a multimeter reported a reading of approximately 13,000 ohms. These figures suggest very different electrical conductivity from Karelian shungite, which makes it unlikely that their composition and structure are the same.
Iridescence has been reported in some Colombian stones, but Karelian shungite is not iridescent. The Colombian 'elite shungite' stones that we purchased do not exhibit iridescence.
When placed next to elite shungite from Karelia, on sight alone, it's extremely difficult to tell one from the other. The only noticeable difference was the rust-like surface markings often present on Karelian shungite. The Colombian stones don't appear to have this secondary surface staining, so have a 'cleaner' finish.
Another point discussed on Mindat was that shungite from Karelia formed nearly two billion years before 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.
What is Raquirite?
Many listings state the Colombian material is known locally as 'raquirite', and claim it's an alternative name for elite shungite. The name appears to derive from Ráquira, a town in the Boyacá region of Colombia.
However, from a geological perspective, there is nothing to support 'raquirite' being a recognised mineral, mineraloid, or rock type. It is a trade name, not a classification.
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. Specimens labelled as raquirite have also been independently catalogued by geologists as asphaltite, on exactly these grounds.
Based on currently available geological information, asphaltite is the closest known substance that matches the appearance and physical properties of the material from Colombia.
Notably, some sellers have now begun describing the material as a 'pyrobitumen-derived carbonaceous material' rather than as shungite. Pyrobitumen is a solid residue formed from petroleum, which is consistent with the asphaltite explanation rather than with shungite.
Karelian and Colombian Shungite Compared
| Karelian shungite | Colombian 'shungite' (raquirite) | |
|---|---|---|
| Approximate age | Around two billion years | Likely less than 100 million years |
| Electrical resistance | As low as single-digit ohms | Thousands to millions of ohms |
| Density | Heavier | Lighter |
| Iridescence | Not iridescent | Reported in some stones |
| Surface | Rust-like secondary staining common | Cleaner, without staining |
| Carbon content | 90–98% for elite grade, documented in published research | Claimed around 95%, no peer-reviewed data |
| Geological classification | Recognised rock type | Not a recognised mineral, mineraloid or rock |
| Water purification | Traditional use for elite grade | Not recommended |
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.
Can Colombian Shungite Be Used for Water Purification?
No. Colombian shungite should not be used for water purification, due to a lack of trustworthy information about its composition or suitability.
Some sellers of the Colombian material now state this themselves, citing possible variation in vanadium content between specimens as a reason to keep the stones out of drinking water. That advice sits awkwardly alongside the claim that the material is the same as elite shungite from Karelia.
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.
