Shungite

Here are some interesting facts about shungite:

Shungite is a unique mineral, or rather a carbonaceous rock, consisting of up to 98% carbon in a special structure similar to fullerene (a form of carbon molecule). It takes its name from the village of Shunga in Karelia, Russia, where the largest and most famous deposit is located.

Origin and geology

• Shungite is about two billion years old.
• It was probably formed from sedimentary deposits of organic material that were converted into this carbon-rich rock through geological processes.

Composition

• Contains carbon in the form of fullerenes (C60, C70), which is unusual for natural minerals.
• May also contain silicon, aluminum, iron, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, and various trace elements.

Areas of use

• Traditionally, it was used in Russia to purify water, as it has absorbent and antibacterial properties.
• Some believe that shungite can protect against electromagnetic radiation (EMF), but scientific evidence is lacking.
• In alternative medicine, it is used in crystal healing to "ground" and to clear negative energy.
• It is also used in cosmetics, as the carbon structure is thought to have detoxifying and antioxidant effects.

Scientific studies

• There is some research on shungite's antibacterial and sorbent properties, primarily in water purification.
• Fullerenes from shungite have interested researchers, as they may have antioxidant and protective properties at the cellular level.
• However, one should be cautious with all claims about health effects; many are not scientifically proven.

Appearance

• Black, shiny or matte stone.
• Feels a little "greasy" to the touch sometimes.
• There are two main qualities:
  • Elite shungite (also called silver shungite) – has the highest carbon content (over 90%) and a metallic sheen.
  • Regular shungite – matte, lower carbon content and often used in decoration and water filters.

The structure of fullerenes

Shungite contains natural fullerenes – hollow carbon molecules in the shape of spheres, cylinders or ellipsoids.

• Fullerenes have been shown to be able to absorb certain frequencies of radiation and participate in electrical reactions.
• They can "capture" free radicals and certain charged particles, which has led to speculation that they can interact with electromagnetic fields as well.

Conductivity

Shungite is conductive, which is unusual for a stone.

• Conductive materials can affect electric fields and to some extent scatter or reflect electromagnetic radiation.
• It acts a bit like a natural "screen" or grounder.
• In practice, a sufficiently large amount of conductive material can reduce EMF in its vicinity, but it takes quite large and well-placed amounts for it to be noticeable.

Studies (but with a bang)

• There are small-scale laboratory studies that have measured that shungite can attenuate certain types of electromagnetic radiation, especially in the microwave and radio wave range.
• These studies are often done in controlled environments and do not say much about the effect of having a small shungite stone at the computer.

Spiritual & symbolic faith

• In alternative medicine and crystal healing, shungite is said to create a protective "energy field bubble".
• It is linked to the stone's grounding properties and the ancient organic carbon structure.

Briefly summarized:

👉 The scientific basis is partly reasonable (due to conductivity and fullerenes).
👉 But the evidence that a small stone in your home protects you from radiation from phones and wifi is very weak.
👉 However, it can feel calming and symbolically strengthening, which in itself has value for many.

Limited research on shungite and EMF protection

There are currently few scientific studies directly investigating shungite's ability to protect against EMF. An older study from 2003 indicated that shungite could protect rats from electromagnetic radiation, but this research is limited and has not been replicated or confirmed on a larger scale.

The antibacterial and antioxidant properties of shungite

Research has shown that shungite contains fullerenes, a type of carbon nanostructure, which have antibacterial and antioxidant properties. A 2017 study in mice showed that applying a shungite solution reduced oxidative stress caused by UVB radiation. However, these results are preliminary and conducted in animal models, meaning more research is needed to understand the relevance to humans.

Oxidative stress and EMF exposure

Independent of shungite, research has shown that exposure to electromagnetic fields can cause oxidative stress, which in turn can lead to chronic diseases. A January 2021 publication by a Swiss expert group concluded that EMF and microwave radiation can cause oxidative stress, based on studies in animals and cells.

However, it is important to note that although shungite has antioxidant properties, there is no direct scientific evidence linking these properties to protection against EMF.

Conclusion

Currently, there is limited scientific evidence to support the claim that shungite can protect against electromagnetic radiation. The studies that do exist are either preliminary, conducted on animals, or focus on other properties of shungite. More extensive and targeted studies in humans are needed to confirm such protective effects.