The Grounded Kiwi Guide to Spotting a Fake!
Hey there,
In a world increasing in scams by the hour, we are all about being real and authentic here at Grounded Kiwi. You've likely heard the incredible powers of Shungite stone's protective and energetic properties. You might have some in your collection already, or you are looking to get some before it is dispersed around the world for good. Yes, the elite shungite crystal is pretty much all mined out now. The elite shungite, also known as Type 1 Shungite, Nobel Shungite, is the highest-carbon, fullerene-containing of the three classifications of shungite stone, and it's pretty much all gone. Making it even more vital in today's world that you source yours from someone you can trust and also know how to spot the fake stuff.
We don't want you wasting your hard-earned dollars on a fake black rock. So, let's uncover the secrets to telling real versus fake Shungite, so you can shop with total confidence.
What on Earth is Shungite Anyway?
Shungite is a unique, grayish-black, sometimes metallic silver mineral that is absolutely packed with carbon content. This carbon is the key to its powerful properties—and luckily for us, also the key to testing its authenticity.
Now, let's get down to the real checks you can do at home!
5 Simple Tests to Spot the Real Deal (Keep reading to the end as the last tip is the best!)
1. The Softness & Crumbly Test
Real Shungite is relatively soft. On the Mohs scale of hardness, it only scores a 3.5 to a 4. This means it's brittle and can scratch easily.
- The Elite Clue: If you have the really high carbon content Shungite (known as Elite), it's much crumblier. You should be able to apply a little bit of pressure and feel it crumble in your fingers.
- The Fake Sign: If your stone is super hard and won't crumble, it's probably not Shungite, unless it's been stabilised with resin or glue! Gross eh! This is what the stuff coming out of China might have.
2. The Black Streak Test
This is a classic gem test! When you streak real Shungite stone against a white unglazed tile, it will always leave a black powder streak. This confirms the black colour matches its internal composition of carbon.
- The Difference: Other black stones might leave a different coloured streak, but Shungite will always be black.
3. The Staining Test (It Gets Messy!)
Because of that high carbon content, especially with raw pieces, real Shungite stone will stain black.
- It can stain your fingers, fabric, or paper. Don't worry, it washes off easily.
- A quick tip: If the piece is polished, it might not stain, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's fake. It just means the polishing method sealed the carbon. This polish often rubs off over time.
4. The Weight Check
Real Shungite is not as dense as other black stones, which means it's relatively lightweight.
- For example, a cube of Shungite might weigh 100grams, while a Hematite cube of the exact same size could weigh 150+ oz. You should feel a clear difference!
5. Look for Inclusions (The Pyrite and Graphite Clues)
When you look closely at a piece of genuine, raw Shungite, you should very rarely see a perfectly uniform piece of solid black rock. If it looks too perfect, that’s actually a warning sign!
Real Shungite usually has visible organic inclusions—little flecks or patterns that break up the solid black colour. These are your clues that you have the real thing!
- Golden Pyrite: One of the most common inclusions you’ll see is Golden Pyrite. Pyrite looks like tiny, metallic gold flakes or veins running through the black stone. These beautiful golden spots are entirely organic and a great indicator of authenticity.
- Quartz and Dolomite: Sometimes you might also see inclusions of lighter minerals like Quartz or Dolomite. These appear as subtle grey or white veins and patches.
If your stone is completely, uniformly black without any natural variations or flecks—even when you hold it up to the light—it might be an artificial material or a much cheaper stone. The real stuff is full of natural patterns!
5. The Conductivity Test (The Ultimate Proof)
This is the big one that can't be faked! Shungite stone is one of the rare gemstones that actually conducts electricity. This is the easiest and most fun way to prove its authenticity.
- The Multimeter Method: The most effective way to test this is using a multimeter (the kind you might have in the garage to check your outlets!). Set it to ohm and touch the prongs to two different points on the stone. If it's real Shungite, the meter should move quickly toward zero, showing conductivity.
- The Mobile Phone Test: Because of its conductivity, real Shungite stone is able to scroll your mobile phone screen. Try it!
Don't Get Confused With Other Black Stones!
Be wary of these black stones that are often confused with—or sold as—Shungite:
- Hematite: This metallic stone is much heavier (more dense) and has very little conductivity, so it won't move the multimeter much.
- Jet Stone: This stone has no conductivity at all; it's an insulator.
- Obsidian: This stone is glassier and shinier (it's volcanic glass) and also will not read on the multimeter.
- Graphene - This is what is coming out in bulk from China right now. We know because our certified suppliers travelled around China posing as buyers and found 5 out of 6 factories had massive piles of graphite that they were polishing up and selling on online marketplaces.
If your multimeter isn't giving you a clear answer, make sure to combine all five tests we've shown you.
If you want to shop with confidence and know you're getting the real deal for your protection and grounding practice, head over to the Grounded Kiwi collection. We only deal in authentic, quality Shungite stone.
➡️ Click here to explore our genuine Shungite stones and jewellery!