Organic & Fossils
Carbon
What it is
Shungite is a rare carbon-rich stone found almost exclusively in Russia's Karelia region. It contains fullerenes (hollow carbon molecules) and is estimated to be around 2 billion years old — possibly formed from ancient microscopic organisms.
How it forms
The exact origin is debated. One theory: ancient single-celled organisms accumulated in shallow seas and were metamorphosed into this unique carbon-rich rock. Another: it formed from primordial carbon deposits.
Carbon (with fullerenes C₆₀/C₇₀)
