Why is there ” rust ” on my Elite Shungite?

83 Gram Elite Shungite

We have been asked this question many times over the years….Why does my Elite Shungite have rust on its surface?      Jarosite

Firstly, it is not rust, as some people claim! It is called Jarosite – Mineral.

I thought I would clear up this misinformation as it seems circulating around some other Shungite supplier’s websites. Below is an example that worries me, as it is not true!

“What is rust? Pretty simply, rust is oxidation of a material. In this case, due to the high amount of iron ore found in the soils in Karelia the rust is due to the iron ore oxidation from the soil lying adjacent to the Shungite. The Shungite is not rusting, it is the material on it or near it. Typically, the rust forms into material that is a yellow/orange colour.”

So, as far as we have learned from many reliable sources, the rust-like flakes that are Ocre-coloured and are sometimes present on Elite Shungite are a basic sulphate of Iron formed from the oxidation of  Pyrite. It is from the Pyrite, not the soil, that the Jarosite is formed.  As you may be aware, all Shungite can have veins of Pyrite running through it because Pyrite was present in the same area where the Shungite formed. When Pyrite is exposed to air, it then oxidises. You can see the Pyrite veins running through all three types of Shungite. Only when the Pyrite is exposed to air does it become Jarosite or oxidized Pyrite?

Jarosite

When we send out your larger pieces of Elite Shungite, we carefully remove as much Jarosite as possible without damaging the Elite. Some people ask for the Jarosite to be left on as it is a naturally occurring part of Shungite. It is harmless but sometimes worries people as they think it is dirt or other pollutant. 158gm Elite

When you see these Jarosite flakes, it shows you that the Elite Shungite is authentic! There is no way to “fake” these as they can only occur naturally, so if you see them in your Elite Shungite, you have another way to authenticate it!

I hope this helps clarify your questions about those little flakes of Jarosite!