Shungite

Shungite is a lustrous deep black, non-crystalline, amorphous variety of graphite, that consists almost entirely of carbon. Shungite is a special kind of coal within Precambrian sediments, mostly found on the Kola Peninsula of Russia. Its parent materials were the remains of algae and moss. This metamorphosed rock contains fullerenes, which can be magnetic and absorb light. Therefore shungite is believed to generally protect and help with all kinds of disease, radiation, and stress. Shungite has been used as an artists’ pigment for a long time, especially for Russian icons. It has excellent hiding power and shows an intense black tone with a cool tint. Due to the hardness of this kind of coal shungite can be used as material for sculptures; their surface may even be polished. The noble shungite from Kremer Pigmente comes from Karelia in the Northwest of Russia.

The pigment is a very deep, opaque black which may show a slight bluish cast with certain applications. It is suitable for all aqueous binders and oil but is particularly intriguing when used as watercolor or with egg tempera. Oil color with Shungit tends to dry slowly.