Belgorod chalk is widely regarded to be some of the most pristine natural chalk available on the market, which is in no small part due to the environment it’s found in. The Belgorod region is known for its natural mineral riches, wealth of biodiversity and untouched nature. Many chalk and clay deposits have been discovered in the region, as parts of the region sit on large deposits of limestone from the Cretaceous epoch. The fauna of the Belgorod region is primarily made up of the meadow-steppe variety, with estimates ranging from ten to fifteen thousand species. The region is best known for its various bird species. Unfortunately about 10% of all species in the region are considered threatened as per the IUCN, with conservation efforts being made. The flora is made up of approximately 1200 species, ranging from the northern forest-steppe and meadow steppe variety to woodland. Woodlands cover about 10% of the region, and about 800 hectares of it are classified as protected areas due to the threatened species of flora and fauna living there. The region includes the Belogorye Nature Reserve which can boast one of the last intact riverine old-growth oak forests, with some of the oak trees being over 300 years old. EPOCH The Cretaceous Epoch gets its name from the Latin word “creta” which translates to chalk. The name is attributed to the large amounts of chalk formations laid down in Western Europe during this period. A great example of these Cretaceous deposits are the White Cliffs of Dover in south-eastern England or Cap Blanc Nez in France, which was a vital measuring point for the eighteenth-century surveys linking the Paris Observatory with the Royal Greenwich Observatory. CALCIUM CARBONATE Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CaCO3. It is a common substance found as the minerals calcite and aragonite, most notably in chalk, limestone, seashells, eggshells, and even pearls. Materials that contain a lot of calcium carbonate are described as calcareous. Calcium carbonate is produced when calcium ions in hard water react with carbonate ions to form lime scale. BELGOROD Our premium Belgorod chalk comes from the city of Belgorod, which is known worldwide for its very abundant snow-white chalk deposits. When translated, the name of the city literally translates to: "White City." It was given that name, and quite aptly, due to the very chalk deposits it's so well known for. The city was founded at the end of the 16th century as a defensive fortress. It was not until the late 18th century that a modernized urban plan was developed. ASMR ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) is a physical and psychological experience that combines pleasant and relaxing sensations in response to certain stimuli. The most common association with ASMR is auditory, but it can also include visual and tactile. Our premium Belgorod chalk has the cleanest, most audible crack we’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. So perk up your ears and get ready for a delightful auditory experience. VARIETIES We offer our premium Belgorod chalk in three varieties, bars, chunks and flakes. Once mined, our chalk goes through one of two simple processes before being inspected, packaged and shipped for distribution. Both processes only affect the physical shape of the chalk. For the bars, large pieces of chalk are sawn into 2 x 2 x 8cm bars. On most bars a clean circular pattern can be observed. The chunks are large pieces of chalk that have been ground into smaller more manageable fragments for your convenience, with the flakes being even more finely ground. NATURA URALIS At Natura Uralis we are dedicated to only finding and bringing you all natural products! We set our highest values and priorities to only bring you products that are naturally occurring, without additives and/or impurities, and with minimal to no processing. Before any of our products go out for sale, they are carefully inspected to meet our highest standards, and your expectations! ALL NATURALVELVETYEARTHYEPIC ASMR HISTORY Chalk comes from the Latin calx, "limestone," with the Greek root khalix, "small pebble." The first recorded uses of chalk date back to over 10,000 BC when it was used by early humans. Since then the use of chalk, namely calcium carbonate, has evolved and permeated into all aspects of modern society, including industries such as cosmetics, hospitality, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. With such a long history of varied uses, it’s interesting that it was not until the 15th century that sales of chalk were first recorded in Champagne, France. AIRING Due to the porous nature of chalk, it can absorb odours from the air fairly easily. If you don’t want your chalk to smell of your gym bag, we suggest you air it out in a dry, well-ventilated environment, or simply take it outside for a few hours. WETTING If you prefer a slightly more damp and earthy tactile experience, akin to a fresh morning dew on a mountaintop meadow, try putting your chalk in a bowl or water or spray it lightly. The water will soften the chalk and really bring out that velvety smooth texture. BAKING If you want the chalk to crack even harder than before, or you left it outside overnight and it rained, don’t fret - bake it! Throw a few bars, chunks or flakes in the oven for 30 minutes on medium to high heat, and you’ll be good to go! Sawn Chalk Bars Chalk Chunks Chalk Flakes Add to Cart Add to Cart Add to Cart Customer Reviews 3.7 out of 5 stars 472 3.6 out of 5 stars 187 3.1 out of 5 stars 18 Price $21.99$21.99 $18.99$18.99 $19.99$19.99 Type Bars Chunks Flakes Quantity 100g, 200g, 500g, 1000g 100g, 200g, 500g, 1000g 500g Size 2cm x 2cm x 8cm various sizes various sizes