Discovered in Russia in 1978 in the Murun mountains in Yakutia. This the only known location for this rare mineral. The name Charoite is derived from the Charo River which is near where it was found. It has been reported only from the Sakha Republic, Siberia, Russia.

The colors range from bright lavender, violet and lilac to dark purple with swirling patterns of black Augite, transparent crystals of microcline feldspar, and/or orange Tinaksite.

Charoite is so unusual looking with its chatoyancy and strange looking spirally  strands of fibrous material that it is often mistaken for a synthetic.  It is used extensively in jewelry and as an ornamental stone carved into boxes, bookends and vases. It ranges from 5 - 6 on the Mohs scale.