Mineral Mondays #20: Painite
Mineral Mondays
Last month I went over 5 of the rarest gems on earth, one of them being Painite. This concludes that series.
Painite is one of those gems you've probably never heard of. There really is no reason you should have, other than at one time it was the rarest gemstone in the world.
History
Painite was discovered by a British mineralogist named Arthur Pain. He discovered the gem in Myanmar in the early 1950's. There were only 2 known specimens in existence until 1979. It was so rare that until 2005 each painite discovered was documented and numbered. For example, Painite #3 was discovered in 1979 at the Gemological Institute of America in a parcel of gemstone rough.
Painite #4 was discovered in Burma in 2001. It weighed 55 carats.
This continued up to painite #25 which was discovered in June, 2005 in Burma. In July of that year many more specimens were found and it became the start of larger discoveries in the area bringing the number of painites found into the thousands.
The Gem
Painite is a orangeish-red to brownish-red gemstone. As a cut gemstone it isn't very attractive, but as a specimen it's very nice. It's color is compared to that of a garnet.
One nice quality of painite is it's pretty hard, just behind sapphire.
The largest known painite is called the "GRS Painite". It weighs 3165 carats and is coated in rubies.
Some Painite Facts
Shape - dipyramidal - orthorhombic
- Composition - CaZrAl9O15(BO3)(Calcium, Zirconium, Aluminum, Oxygen)
- Hardness - 8
- Refractive Index - 1.787 to 1.816
- Color - red, orange, brown
- Localities - Burma
Thank you for reading! I had a lot of fun researching these super rare gemstones. Much of the information I wasn't aware of so it was almost as much of a learning experience for me as for you.
Next Mineral Mondays #21: Neptunite
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Hell ya, Mineral mondays is back! That "GRS Painite" with the rubies all over it is wicked looking. If you can you should bring a few gems to the meet up tomorrow. Show off a little bit. I'd enjoy that.
Most of my collection is in Japan, but I have a few here I can bring along. You bringing the pups?
Sweet! I'm gonna bring some gold. I like showing off. lol.
Nah... I don't wanna have to deal with the dogs.
luxury gems brothers,very interesting
It's my hobby. I collect rare gems and minerals. Thanks!
レアそうな宝石ですね！赤は好きな色です。
非常にまれです！ 貴重な赤い宝石がたくさんあります。いくつかについてブログに書いた。
これはとても美しい鉱石ですね。
実は私も鉱石好きでコレクションしています。
これほど赤い鉱石はほとんど見かけません。
本当に美しいですね。
すごいです！あなたのコレクションについてのブログをお願いします。
珍しい鉱石ですね♪
綺麗です！
それは非常にまれです！ 次回は日本語でも書きます。
This post has received a 4.00 % upvote from @aksdwi thanks to: @rt395.
Nice writeup - It's easy to think everything has been discovered or is already known but here we are with a relatively new discovery that is also fairly rare at this point.
New things are just around the corner if we're willing to keep looking.
Thanks for sharing
Ya, a new mineral was just discovered last year! We know a lot, but there is still soooo much to learn. Thanks @mdf-365
Painite looks so beautiful! The top photo looks
almost like candy :-)
Those rubies growing on the other one are so cool!
Ya, that top one is a rarer specimen. I't usually kinda brownish, like root beer candy. I have to get some for my collection. I've missed several opportunities, but I won't miss the next chance.
Sneaky Ninja Attack! You have been defended with a 1.76% vote... I was summoned by @rt395! I have done their bidding and now I will vanish...Whoosh