Eastern SiberiaCharoite is an unusual stone of a very rare occurrence found in only one location northeast of Lake Baikal. In recent years no new rough material has been retrieved from the mine. A rock containing fibrous purple crystals of charoite, black crystals of aegirine augite, transparent crystals (microcline feldspar) and orange (rare tinaksite). The quality of material is judged on the basis of the size of charoite fibrous crystals with the most superior quality material displaying a pearly luster. The present offering was crafted by a Russian artisan in the form of a letter opener carved of translucent green nephrite with a charoite handle. Measuring 9 x 1 1/2 in