Rare mineral:
Shungite properties are one of the most unusual and rare natural phenomena. One of the main properties of this rare mineral is its antioxidant capacity. Shungite is a rare resource, the place of production of which exists only in one region of the world. This ecologically clean region rich in forests and a variety of rocks is called the Republic of Karelia. It is located in the North of Russia near the border of Finland.
At the very beginning of the 20th century, once this rock was discovered, Shungite abilities were defined only as a source of thermal energy. However, research in this area has not yielded the expected results. This rock looks like coal, but its unique mineral composition and unusual shungite properties do not allow it to burn and release the necessary thermal energy like coal. In this study the unique properties of Shungite is not over. Only 100 years later Shungite finds a new life as an amazing natural spring. Here is a scientifically proven list that has been identified over the years.
What is the shungite properties?
Shungite properties as an Antioxidant
Shungite is one of the strongest antioxidants created by nature. Raises the immunity of the human body on a new level, gives him abilities resisting many diseases.
What are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are particles of human defense systems that fight free radicals. In other words, antioxidants are substances that block or inhibit cellular oxidation. And, in turn, oxidation processes occur due to the destructive action of free radicals.
What are free radicals?
These are molecular particles that, for whatever reason, have lost one electron. These particles are actively trying to bring back this electron. They break the bonds in full-fledged molecules and attach themselves to the missing electron. In turn, these cells also want to recover the stolen electron. Therefore, they acquire the properties of free radicals and destroy the next atoms. Thus, in the human body begins a chain reaction called oxidative stress.
It is worth noting that free radicals are a natural part of human biochemical processes. But, if the balance is broken, the radicals begin to damage healthy cells. The more free radicals in the human body, the faster this process of oxidation. As a result, the human body is more prone to various diseases and aging. Shungite properties as an antioxidant allow to normalize these harmful processes.
How do free radicals enter the human body?
First, as a result of natural biochemical reactions in the human body.
Secondly, as a result of negative environmental factors. Modern human living conditions are overflowing with negative factors. Harmful food, polluted air, medicines, electromagnetic waves, stress, ultraviolet radiation from the sun, etc. This way it all contributes to the penetration of free radicals in the human body.
How do Antioxidants help?
These substances break off the chain reaction of oxidation. They sacrifice themselves by giving the missing electron to the radical. But they do not continue to take this electron from full-fledged molecules. Thus, the oxidation reaction stops. Antioxidants enter the human body with food in the form of vitamins and minerals. For example, vitamins C and E, as well as minerals Zinc, Selenium, Iron, etc. Physical activity and the desire for a healthy lifestyle positively affect the balance of biochemical reactions of the human body.
What is the most effective Antioxidant?
It is assumed that one of the strongest antioxidants are fullerenes. For Example, Fullerene C60. Shungite is the only mineral that is a natural carrier of C60 fullerenes. Such fullerenes have hydrated form and soluble in water. In the course of research it was found that water infused with shungite has a beneficial effect on the human body and animals. Probably, these shungite properties are due to the natural antioxidant in the form of fullerene.
Many researchers are of the opinion that the water in which the shungite was lying becomes a molecular colloidal solution with multifaceted biological effects [1,2]. For this reason, fullerenes and other carbon nanoparticles are released from shungite under the action of water. Because it has a large number of different macropores and mesopores. And also this is due to the special shungite properties in relation to water. Currently, researchers associate this with the amphiphilicity and dipole properties of shungite. They, in turn, are due to the main structural element of shungite – graphene. Therefore, nanoparticles of shungite carbon are successfully stabilized in water. In doing so, they create stable dispersions of hydrated fullerenes without oxidation.
Experience, keeping frogs in dirty water with and without shungite chips.
In this regard, studies of shungite water were carried out. For this purpose, the biological effect of shungite water on amphibians (grass frog Rana Temporaria) was studied at Petrozavodsk State University (Karelia, Russia) [1]. After all, in their lives, the skin plays an important role in the flow of water into the body and in gas exchange. So, a researcher, candidate of biological sciences Belousova G.P. proved the positive effect of shungite breed on frog survival in laboratory conditions.
Thus, the researchers kept the first group of frogs in laboratory conditions in a vivarium. At the same time, they observed all the rules of hygiene. At the same time, the researchers kept the second group of frogs in the laboratory in a vivarium. For this group, the hygiene rules for keeping these frogs were not followed. Well, the researchers also kept the third group of frogs under laboratory conditions in a vivarium without proper care. However, to the third group, they added they 0.5-1 cm shungite chips to the water. They did it in such proportions: at the rate of 125 grams per 0.5 liters of water).
The results of the experiment.
As a result, the second group of frogs, which were kept without observing the rules of hygiene, began to die after 7 days. And after 14 days, the group of frogs died 100%. The third group, which lived without observing hygienic rules in water with shungite crumbs, showed 100% survival rate for 60 days. Finally, when the experiment was completed, the scientists measured the biological parameters of the third group of frogs. And they significantly exceeded the performance of frogs from the first control group (which also survived, but in the conditions of leaving). In particular, this concerns neurohumoral regulatory mechanisms and thermokinetics of metabolic processes in amphibians.
One hundred percent survival of frogs in shungite water proves that shungite has high antioxidant, antibacterial and sorption properties.
Study of the antioxidant properties of shungite in mice.
Also, researchers from Yonsei University Research Fund of 2016 confirmed the active antioxidant properties of shungite in a scientific work “Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Shungite against Ultraviolet B Irradiation-Induced Skin Damage in Hairless Mice”.
They confirmed the hypothesis that shungite, a natural fullerene, has antioxidant properties, since it reduces the intracellular production of ROS (Reactive oxygen species: oxygen ions, free radicals and peroxides). In addition, researchers have shown that shungite increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes (GPx, SOD and MPO) in vivo.
Shungite properties As a Sorbent
Shungite stone, due to its porous structure, effectively purifies water from organic and inorganic pollutants. The fact is that such shungite properties as sorption, antioxidant and catalytic properties of shungite are closely related to each other. Therefore, they allow the use of shungite as an efficient filter material with an efficiency of up to 95% for wastewater treatment from a wide range of pollutants. For example, the phenol adsorption activity of shungite is 14 mg / g; for thermolysis resins – 20 mg / g; and for oil products more than – 40 mg / g. The sorption efficiency of shungite is clearly shown in the summary table [3].
| Type of water Pollution | Degree of purification, % |
|---|---|
| Iron | 95 |
| Zinc | 80 |
| Lead | 85 |
| Copper | 85 |
| Cesium | 90 |
| Strontium | 97 |
| Radionuclides | 90 |
| Fluorine | 80 |
| Ammonia | 90 |
| Organochlorine compounds | 85 |
| Phenols | 90 |
| Dioxins | 97 |
| Helminth eggs | 90 |
| Smell | 85 |
| Turbidity | 95 |
Also, scientists have proved that shungite is able to remove heavy metals (copper, cadmium, mercury, lead) from water, as well as boron, phenol and benzene. For example, they demonstrated this in model experiments on water, in which the content of harmful substances exceeded the MPC by 10-50 times. At the same time, they included shungite in filtering installations. In turn, shungite was able to reduce the content of harmful substances in the water to the established safe minimum in accordance with regulatory documents. At the same time, no toxic elements enter the water from shungite sorbents.
Shungite bactericidal properties.
The shungite has sorption activity against pathogenic microflora, and also has pronounced bactericidal properties. In addition, shungite is bactericidal against pathogenic saprophytes and protozoa.
Firstly, there is evidence that if water containing E. coli is passed through shungite, then its almost complete removal is observed (if the index varies from 2300 cells / l to 3 cells / l). Secondly, out of 1785 cells / l of protozoa (ciliates, rotifers, crustaceans) in the initial water after treatment with shungite, only a few specimens were observed (5 cells / l) [4].
Shungite purifies water from radinuleids.
The terrible accident at the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant in Japan left hundreds of millions of liters of radioactive water around the defenses built around the plant. He could not be thrown into the ocean without purification. And the issue of processing such water was very difficult. However, scientists from Kazan Federal University and Rice University in the USA (Rice University) have proposed their own way to solve the problem.
They modified the carbon in such a way that, according to the developers, it could separate water from radionuclides. It was oxidatively modified carbon. And also scientists used shungite from Karelia. In laboratory tests, the researchers report that oxidatively modified carbon has been shown to be highly effective at absorbing radioactive metal cations, including cesium and strontium, uranium, thorium and radium, from contaminated water. At the same time, scientists were struck by the fact that simple particles of natural shungite showed almost the same high performance results in the absorption of radioactive elements.
How does shungite water purification work?
As a result of studying the sorption properties of shungite, scientists came to the following conclusion. The fact is that the carbon components of shungite are capable of attacking active oxygen atoms, known to us as free radicals. Shungite nanoparticles, coupled with its special structure, very actively (a catalyst property) oxidize them in water and air [5].
Let’s see how exactly this happens? The fact is that at the moment when the particles of shungite carbon absorb free radicals, atomic oxygen is formed. In turn, it begins to oxidize all those organic pollutants that have adhered to shungite to CO2 and H2O. Thus, the shungite surface is cleaned and it is ready for adsorption again.
And how does shungite interact with inorganic substances, for example, with Fe2 + and Fe3, Mg2 +, Ca2 +, which are dissolved in water? Shungite simply converts metal cations from a soluble form to an insoluble carbonate. In turn, this occurs due to the above-described process of oxidation of organic substances with atomic oxygen in the course of the reaction of interaction of carbon monoxide and water.
Shungite properties as a Catalyst.
Shungite has the ability to adsorb organic matter, like a sponge, and self-repair. If we compare it with activated carbon, then shungite can show delayed results only in the first day of water purification. But further, the shungite mineral is activated and begins to purify impurities from water at a higher rate and constancy, in comparison with activated carbon.
These data have been scientifically proven by experiments carried out on shungite at the Russian Technological University named after D.I. Mendeleev (RCTU), as well as in the All-Russian Research Institute of Mineral Resources named after N. M. Fedorovsky (FGBU VIMS) [9]. Shungite also removes free radicals from water, formed in it after cleaning with chlorine, 30 times faster than activated carbon. [6]
Thus, different researchers have come to a conclusion. Karelian shungite can be used in the preparation of drinking water in flow systems of any capacity. And also for industrial and domestic purposes and in wells in order to improve the quality characteristics of water. And in addition to imparting beneficial properties to water.
At the same time, it is especially effective and technologically justified to use mixtures based on shungite with activated carbon or zeolite in filter systems, with possible subsequent regeneration of sorbents [7,8]. Meanwhile, we write in this article how to use shungite for water.
Shungite properties as a Source.
The shungite stone contains various amounts of trace elements and substances with high biological activity, which simpleroot potential in humans and animals. The only natural source of Fullerenes. Moreover, shungite mineral is able to eliminate the turbidity and color of water, and it also gives it good organoleptic qualities. At the same time, shungite simultaneously saturates the water with microelements and macroelements.
Shungite propertise as a Defender.
It is endowed with a unique ability to neutralize various geopathic electromagnetic waves, including high frequency. Above all, these Shungite properties were the basis for the creation of materials based on it, with radio-screening and radio-absorbing properties.
At present, the high radio shielding ability of shungite stone has been scientifically proven.
Since example the researchers in various tests tested shungite with a thickness of hundreds and even tens of microns (shungite stone or powder). As a result, it was proved that shungite almost completely absorbs the EMF radiation of the superhigh frequency range from 8 to 70 GHz down to -40 decibels. In addition, shungite protects from the low-frequency range of the EMF, as well as from the range of the X-ray spectrum. The fact is that complex mechanisms of absorption and reflection of radiation work in shungite. In turn, which depend on the complex structure of shungite and fullerenes. Therefore, shungite is used on an industrial scale to create special radio-shielding materials. Moreover, you can find out more in our article about the properties of shungite emf protection.
Resume of shungite properties.
So, here we are, we got acquainted with a wide range of properties of the amazing shungite stone. These include antioxidant, adsorption, catalytic and EMF protective qualities. At the same time, long before scientific research, people knew that shungite is a salubrious source. Therefore, it was used for treatment by locals and royalty. Well, in our time, science has revealed a little the secret of shungite. That is why we now know about fullerenes in shungite and about its very special connection with water. However, shungite carbon still remains a target for scientific study. After all, we have yet to reveal the rest of his mysteries.
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