This particular Shilajit comes from the Altai Mountains, Russian Altay, Mongolian Altayn Nuruu, Chinese (Pinyin) Altai Shan, complex mountain system of Central Asia extending approximately 1,200 miles (2,000 km) in a southeast-northwest direction from the Gobi (Desert) to the West Siberian Plain, through China, Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan. The jagged mountain ridges derive their name from the Turkic-Mongolian Altan, meaning “golden.” But don’t be fooled by its size, since the Altai mountains don’t contain many places where you can find Shilajit. There are only a few locations where it comes to the surface and covers the mountainsides like thick black tar. However, the locals know about unique places where this black resin covers the steep mountainside at 3000m of altitude, which simultaneously offers a spectacular view.

In some cases, Shilajit passes through rocks back into the mountain, pools inside a cave or a crevice. People have reported that it can form in such a thick mass that it starts forming stalagmites and even forms large puddles of this rich crusty resin. Sites like this provide the primary source of Altai Shilajit for locals to collect the best possible natural resin.