Charoite is known for its distinctive coloring from lavender through violet and purple. It often contains inclusions of tinaksite, which appear as golden shapes throughout the material. Although it is somewhat disputed, charoite is said to have been discovered in the 1940s and named for the Chara River. This elite mineral is found only in the Sakha Republic, Siberia, Russia, in native limestone deposits. Not known to the outside world until 1978, charoite is generally used as an ornamental stone, carved into vases and figurines, and cut into cabochons. There is a fairly strict prohibition on charoite exportation from Russia, and it is exceedingly difficult to obtain gem rough. Luckily, we have a good supply of this fine material for production into fine jewelry pieces.