Shungite Water: History, Uses & Research

Shungite Water is water that has been infused with authentic Shungite stone. It is prepared by placing Shungite in water for a period of time, allowing the water to come into contact with the stone’s naturally occurring carbon-rich structure and fullerene content. Traditionally referred to as “black stone water,” this practice has been used for generations in Karelia, Russia, where authentic Shungite is found.

Shungite Water: Historical Accounts

Shungite Water has a long history of traditional use in Russia, particularly in Karelia, where the stone became associated with mineral-rich spring water and local wellness practices. Over time, Shungite earned the nickname “The Stone of Life” because of its connection to these natural springs and its place in Russian folklore.

Xenia Romanova, mother of the first Romanov Czar, is often mentioned in historical accounts related to Shungite water. According to tradition, she traveled to drink water flowing through the “black stones” after becoming ill and later credited the spring water with helping restore her health.

Martial Waters Spa

In the early 1700s, Peter the Great helped establish the famous Martial Waters spa, one of Russia’s earliest health resorts. The mineral springs in this region, known for flowing through Shungite-rich deposits, became widely recognized for their natural properties and attracted visitors seeking restorative waters.

Historical records also describe Peter the Great establishing a copper mine near the Martial Waters region. The mineral waters flowing through the black stones became associated with recovery among workers in the mine who fell ill from exposure to raw copper.

Accounts from the same period also describe Peter the Great encouraging soldiers to place a black stone in their water jugs during military campaigns. It was believed this helped improve water quality at a time when clean drinking water was often difficult to access.

Use For Healing & Wellness

A report from that period titled Inquiry on the True Properties of the Martial Waters of Konchezero documented observations of the Shungite mineral springs and their use for healing and general wellness at the spa. Historical accounts from the report describe the waters being used for a variety of health concerns, including liver disorders and other common illnesses of the time, reflecting some of the earliest written efforts to study and characterize these mineral-rich waters.

Cultural Landmark

Following Peter the Great’s death in 1725, the Martial Waters spa was closed, and use of the springs declined. Interest in the site and its surrounding geology later re-emerged in the mid-20th century, when a new spa was established and further study of the mineral waters resumed.

Today, the Martial Waters site is recognized as a historical and cultural landmark and remains an active destination for visitors interested in the healing traditions of this early spa.

Shungite Water: Modern Research

Modern research into Shungite Water focuses on Shungite’s ability to purify water and enrich it. Because Shungite is rich in carbon and fullerenes, researchers have studied its potential to reduce certain impurities and contaminants in the water.

Published Studies 

Chemical and Microbiological Nature of Produced Water Treatment Biotechnology (ScienceDirect)

Optimizing Water Purification with Shungite: A Metric Approach for Characterizing Its Efficiency in Removing Contaminants

Chemical composition of extracts from shungite and "Shungite water"(ResearchGate)

Study excerpt:

“It has been previously shown that a shungite filter can adsorb E. coli contamination from water. Incubating 25 mL of water with more than 10⁶ CFU/mL on 15 g of shungite for three days made the water microbiologically clean”. 

 

Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine (2003) 

This study examined how water prepared with shungite was used in a controlled laboratory setting involving animals exposed to radiation.

Study context:

The study compared two groups under experimental conditions, with one group receiving Shungite-prepared water following radiation exposure. Differences between the groups were observed within the parameters of the study.

Study excerpt:

“Animals receiving water prepared with shungite demonstrated different survival outcomes compared to the control group under the conditions of the experiment.”