Shungite

From Shunga Russia, Shungite has been used since the middle of the 18th century as a pigment for paint and is currently sold under the names "carbon black" or "shungite natural black. It formed over 2 billion years ago and has been used as a folk medical treatment since the early 18th century. Peter the Great set up Russia's first spa in Karelia to make use of the water purifying properties of shungite, which he had himself experienced. He also instigated its use in providing purified water for the Russian army. The anti-bacterial properties of shungite have been confirmed by modern testing. The test of time is a nice barometer in it's use as adornment. Shungite has to date mainly been found in Russia. The largest deposit is in the Lake Onega area of Karelia, at Zazhoginskoye, near Shunga, with another occurrence at Vozhmozero. Two other much smaller occurrences have been reported in Russia, one in Kamchatka in volcanic rock and the other formed in Chelyabinsk from the burning of coal spoil at high temperature. Other veins have been found in Austria, India, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kazakhstan. The term "shungite" was originally used in 1879 to describe a mineral type with more than 98 percent carbon.  Can you polish it and wear it around your neck is the first question. Oh yes you can and very nicely.  And this rough has the sought after pyrite flakes scattered throughout. -WET- pic.- ( 2.5"x 1.5"/1.2 oz./6mm thk) no fractures