Certificates of Origin: The Gold Standard of Shungite Authenticity
When buying shungite, there is only one standard: certification from an independent laboratory at the Karelia deposit. Without this paperwork, the stone should be considered fake — because if it were real, why wouldn’t the seller display the certificate?
The Certificates
How Testing Was Performed
Authenticity is controlled at the source. Whenever new material is mined, samples are submitted to laboratories in Karelia for analysis. This confirms the rock is from within the shungite-bearing crater zone and matches the expected mineralogical profile.
Each certified batch undergoes:
– Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) — Confirms the unique molecular structure of shungite carbon.
– Elemental Analysis — Measures oxide and trace-element composition characteristic of Karelia shungite.
– Microscopy and Refractometry — Verifies inclusions and optical properties.
– Batch Documentation — Every certificate is tied to a specific mined lot, with date and official seal.
What’s Not Authentic
Materials often misrepresented as shungite include:
– Coal and Anthracite
– Graphite
– Obsidian
– Colombian “Jet” (fossilized wood)
– Dyed composites and powders
None of these can pass laboratory spectroscopy or elemental analysis, and they are never accompanied by genuine Karelia certification.
The Flashlight Test Myth
A so-called “flashlight test” has been circulating online, claiming that shining a light through a stone proves authenticity. This is meaningless. Many impostors — graphite, obsidian, coal, even dyed glass — scatter light convincingly, and some fakes “pass” the flashlight test better than authentic shungite.
Only spectroscopy and certified documentation can prove authenticity.
The Rule of Authenticity
– If it is not certified, it is fake.
– If it is cheap, it is fake.
Authentic Karelia shungite is rare, scientifically verified, and always backed by official certificates.
