Shungite is a fossilised organic material that geologists believe formed from the metamorphism of crude oil.
The vast majority of shungite being sold around the world comes from the Zazhoginskoe field, Karelia, north west Russia.
There's believed to be around forty million tons of shungite in this area available to mine.
Shungite which is a rock not a mineral contains fullerenes which are molecules that contain atoms of carbon.
It's highly sought after for its healing properties and is also used for water purification purposes.
The amount of carbon present in shungite can vary widely. The finest grade material is known as 'elite' or 'noble' shungite.
Shungite-bearing rocks which are often mis-sold as shungite contain the lowest percentage of carbon. Some have no carbon at all.
Due to the current situation in Russia it's no longer possible to do business with our supplier in Karelia.
The shungite we currently have in our collection comes from a supplier in Ukraine.