Samples of pyroaurite [Mg ₆ Fe ₂ ³⁺ (OH) ₁₆ ][(CO ₃ )(H ₂ O)] from the Kovdor massif (Kola Peninsula, Russia) and Långban deposit (Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden) were studied by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe analysis and Raman spectroscopy. Both samples are rhombohedral, R3m, a = 3.126(3), c = 23.52(2) Å (Kovdor), and a = 3.1007(9), c = 23.34(1) (Långban). Powder X-ray diffraction revealed presence of only 3R polytype at the recorded pattern. M ²⁺ : M ³⁺ ratio was determined as ~3.1-3.2 (Kovdor) and ~3.0 (Långban). Raman band in 3500-3400 cm ^-1 confirms presence of water and/or hydroxyl groups in the composition, while bands at 1346 and 1058 cm ^-1 are characteristic for carbonate groups. On the base of obtained data, samples should be identified as pyroaurite-3R (the hydrotalcite group).