Buying Shungite – Trust Is More Important Than Any Certificate

Anyone who wants to buy Shungite or Elite Shungite today will find a wide range of offers on the internet. Almost every seller uses terms such as Original Shungite, Shungite Certificate, verified origin or 100% genuine Elite Shungite.

For many customers, this is understandably an important factor when making a decision. After all, Shungite is a special natural mineral, and its origin and quality are essential for its further use.

We therefore regularly receive the following question:

"Why is your Shungite certificate issued by your own company and not by an independent certification body?"

This question is absolutely justified. Therefore, we would like to explain openly and transparently why there is no international overall certification for Shungite and why our certificate provides customers with much more practical security than many documents presented on the internet as supposed quality certificates.

Why Is There No Official Shungite Certificate?

Many people compare Shungite with products such as coffee, organic food, wood or textiles. For these products, well-known certification systems exist that confirm origin, quality, sustainability, working conditions and environmental standards at the same time.

However, the situation with Shungite is completely different.

Shungite is a rare natural mineral that occurs practically exclusively in Karelia worldwide. The amount traded annually is extremely small compared with other raw materials.

For this reason, there is no independent worldwide organisation that simultaneously:

• confirms the origin,
• evaluates the quality,
• checks every delivery,
• monitors working conditions,
• certifies environmental standards,
• and finally issues a globally recognised Shungite certificate.

Such a procedure would hardly be economically feasible and would exceed the value of the material itself. This applies not only to Shungite, but also to many rare natural stones and minerals.

Many Certificates Are Not Actually Quality Certificates When Examined Closely

At trade fairs, in online shops or on sales platforms, many different documents are often presented. This can easily create the impression that an independent authority has fully confirmed the authenticity or quality of the offered Shungite.

However, when these documents are examined more closely or professionally translated, a different picture often emerges.

In many cases, these are standard documents that almost every seller in Russia receives directly from the manufacturer or supplier.

These documents fulfil important purposes – however, they are not comprehensive certificates of origin or quality for an individual seller.

Examples of Existing Documents

We also receive these documents from our long-standing partner in Karelia. Below, we would like to briefly explain some examples.

1. Safety Assessment by the A.P. Karpinsky Geological Research Institute (2018)

This assessment confirms that Shungite and Elite Shungite from the Zazhoginsky deposit do not have any hazardous properties.

The material is classified as non-flammable, non-toxic and environmentally safe and can be used both privately and industrially.

2. Hygienic Assessment

This confirms that Shungite meets the applicable hygiene requirements.

The following aspects are examined:

• contaminants
• natural radioactivity
• water quality
• skin compatibility

The assessment confirms safe use in private and industrial applications.

3. Sanitary Assessment for Drinking Water Treatment

This document confirms that Shungite can be used as a filter material for drinking water treatment.

It also confirms that the natural radioactivity is well within the permitted limits and that Shungite can be classified as radiation protection class 1.

4. Safety Data Sheet

The safety data sheet describes the safe handling of Shungite.

It confirms, among other things:

• non-toxic
• environmentally safe
• no special safety measures required
• no special disposal requirements
• transport possible without special regulations

5. Accredited Laboratory Report (2020)

This laboratory report examines the natural radioactivity of Shungite.

The results confirm once again the classification as radiation protection class 1 and therefore the unrestricted use of the material.

All of these documents naturally have their own value and provide important information about material properties, safety aspects or technical requirements.

However, what they cannot provide is a guarantee that a specific seller actually supplies exactly this Shungite or that every individual product comes from the stated origin.

Our Greatest Security: More Than 20 Years of Experience

True security does not come from having as many documents as possible.

It comes from a supplier who knows the entire supply chain and provides transparent information about it.

Since 1999, we have been exclusively dedicated to trading Shungite and Elite Shungite.

For more than 20 years, we have been working with the same reliable partner in Karelia.

We know:

• the mine,
• the processing,
• the sorting,
• the storage,
• the transport
• and the quality control.

Through our regular visits to Karelia, we know the processes personally and can trace the origin of our products.

After import, all goods are additionally checked again at our location in Würzburg, Germany.

Only after this inspection do the products become available for sale.

Why We Issue Our Own Shungite Certificate

For exactly this reason, we issue our own Shungite Certificate.

This certificate is not a copy of any Russian document.

It is our personal guarantee.

With our name, we confirm:

• that the Shungite originates from Karelia,
• that it is genuine Shungite or genuine Elite Shungite,
• that the goods come from our long-standing supply chain,
• and that they have been personally inspected by us.

We take responsibility for this.

Our certificate is therefore not an anonymous piece of paper, but a traceable guarantee of origin from a company that has been dedicated exclusively to Shungite for more than a quarter of a century.

Natural Inclusions Are a Sign of Genuine Shungite Quality

One of the most frequently asked questions from our customers concerns small golden-coloured or light inclusions in the stone.

These are usually pyrite or quartz.

Many customers initially assume that these inclusions indicate lower quality.

The opposite is true.

Shungite is a natural rock and never consists exclusively of pure Shungite carbon.

Minerals such as pyrite, quartz and various silicates have naturally been part of this rock for billions of years.

These natural components are often a sign that the stone is genuine and has not been artificially produced.

Depending on the deposit, the amount and distribution of these minerals can vary significantly. Each stone therefore has its own natural structure, making every piece unique.

Our Promise

When you buy Shungite or Elite Shungite from us, you do not simply receive a piece of natural stone.

You receive the security of a company that has been working intensively with Shungite since 1999, knows its suppliers personally and can trace the origin of every product.

Our Shungite Certificate therefore stands for transparency, responsibility and trust.

We know where our Shungite comes from, how it is extracted and which quality controls it passes through.

We can confidently take this personal responsibility – and this is exactly why we provide you with our certificate as a binding guarantee of origin.