Painite

Painite is a very rare borate mineral, first discovered in Myanmar by British mineralogist Arthur C.D. Pain in the 1950s. It’s known for its reddish-brown or

Painite
Painite
Painite from Myanmar, 2 cm long
General
CategoryBorate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)		CaZrAl9O15(BO3)
Strunz classification6.AB.85
Dana classification7.5.2.1
Crystal symmetryP63/m
Unit cella = 8.72 Å,
c = 8.46 Å; Z = 2
Identification
ColorRed, brownish, orange-red
Crystal habitElongated crystals, pseudo-orthorhombic[1][2]
Crystal systemHexagonal[3]
Mohs scale hardness7.5 – 8
LusterVitreous
StreakRed
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity4.01
Optical propertiesUniaxial (-)
Refractive indexno = 1.8159, ne = 1.7875[1]
PleochroismRuby-red parallel to [0001]; pale brownish orange or pale red-orange at right angles to [0001]
Melting point2094[clarification needed][source?]
SolubilityInsoluble in acids[1]
References[2][4][5]

Painite is a very rare borate mineral, first discovered in Myanmar by British mineralogist Arthur C.D. Pain in the 1950s. It’s known for its reddish-brown or orange-brown color and high brilliance, making it popular for jewellery. With a hardness of 8 and an average density of 4.01 g/cm³, it’s both durable and dense. Painite was once considered the rarest gemstone in the world with only a few known specimens.[6][7]

Uses

Painite is primarily sought after for its use in jewellery due to its rarity and aesthetic qualities. It’s also valued as a collector’s gemstone for its captivating appearance and limited availability.[8]

Genuity

To identify genuine Painite, look for these characteristics:

  • Color: Reddish-brown hue, sometimes with hints of purple.
  • Luster: Vitreous to sub-adamantine.
  • Crystal Shape: Hexagonal crystals.
  • Streak: White streak when scratched against a surface.
  • Hardness: Can scratch glass, indicating a Mohs hardness of 8-8.5.
  • Birefringence: Exhibits weak birefringence (double refraction).
  • Specific Gravity: Ranges from 4.00 to 4.03.[9][10][11]

It should also be free from visible flaws and show no magnetic response. When exposed to short-wave ultraviolet light, Painite may fluoresce green.[12]

Rarity

Painite is one of the rarest gemstones in the world. Initially, only a few specimens were known to exist, making it extremely rare. The Guinness World Records once listed Painite as the world’s rarest mineral. Even now, only a few hundred Painite crystals have ever been found, primarily in Myanmar.[13][14]

Value

Painite is incredibly valuable due to its rarity. Prices can range significantly, with lower quality Painite starting around $100 to $1,000 per carat and the finest quality reaching $50,000 to $60,000 per carat.[15][16][17] Its value is influenced by factors such as color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. Painite is not commonly used in jewellery due to its rarity and value.[18]

Famous painite specimens

Some famous Painite specimens include:

  • The largest known Painite specimen, weighing over 50 carats, is housed in the Natural History Museum in London.[19][20]
  • Painite has been featured in high-end jewelry pieces, such as engagement rings and pendants.[21]

Due to its rarity, most Painite specimens are preserved in private collections or museums rather than being used in jewelry.[22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Claringbull GF, Hey MH, Payne CJ (1957). "Painite, a New Mineral from Mogok, Burma". Mineralogical Magazine. 31 (236): 420–5. Bibcode:1957MinM...31..420C. doi:10.1180/minmag.1957.031.236.11.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C., eds. (2003). "Paynite". Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF). Vol. V (Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates). Chantilly, VA, US: Mineralogical Society of America. ISBN 0962209740. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 16, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  3. ↑ T Armbruster; N Dobelin; A Peretti; D Gunther; E Reusser; B Grobety (2004). "The crystal structure of painite CaZrB(Al9O18) revisited" (PDF). American Mineralogist. 89 (4): 610–613. Bibcode:2004AmMin..89..610A. doi:10.2138/am-2004-0415. S2CID 53848992. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
  4. ↑ Painite. Webmineral. Retrieved on 2012-05-28.
  5. ↑ Painite. Mindat.org. Retrieved on 2012-05-28.
  6. ↑ "Painite - Occurrence, Properties, and Distribution". AZoMining. 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  7. ↑ "Blue earth gems". Blue earth gems. 18/6/2024. Archived from the original on 2024-06-18. Retrieved 18/6/2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)
  8. ↑ MAT, Mahmut (2023-08-08). "Painite: Earth's Rarest Gemstone » Geology Science". Geology Science. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  9. ↑ Oliver, James (2024-01-25). "How To Spot Painite (Real or Fake) Identification Guide". Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". blueearthgems.com. Archived from the original on 2024-06-18. Retrieved 2024-06-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ↑ "How can I identify a genuine painite?". IGLondon.com. 2024-05-05. Archived from the original on 2024-06-18. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  12. ↑ "Painite – The Elusive 'Holy Grail' of Gemstones: A Comprehensive Guide – Levi Keswick". 23 June 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  13. ↑ Team, Geology In. "Painite: One of the Rarest Gemstones in the World". Geology In. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  14. ↑ "The Rare and Radiant Reddish-Brown Painite". Jogani. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  15. ↑ Emerson, Jade (2023-11-22). "Painite Meaning, Healing Properties and Uses". The Crystal Almanac. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  16. ↑ "How Much Is Painite Worth? - Jewels Advisor". 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  17. ↑ "Archived copy". blueearthgems.com. Archived from the original on 2024-06-18. Retrieved 2024-06-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ↑ "Gem society". Gem society. 18/6/2024. Retrieved 18/6/2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)
  19. ↑ "The Rare and Radiant Reddish-Brown Painite". Jogani. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  20. ↑ "Unraveling the Mystical Depths: The Painite Gemstone and its Metaphysical Properties – Levi Keswick". 6 July 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  21. ↑ Page, Geology (2023-04-23). "Painite: The Most Unique Gemstone in the World". Geology Page. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  22. ↑ Page, Geology (2023-04-23). "Painite: The Most Unique Gemstone in the World". Geology Page. Retrieved 2024-06-18.

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