Which mineral is rare?

Currently, science knows more than 5300 minerals existing on Earth, and this list will expand every year. However, not many rare gemstones are known – about 200 varieties. But which of these minerals is the rarest and most expensive? Someone will probably say that such a stone is a diamond. It is indeed very expensive, but it still cannot be called rare. Diamonds were discovered back in the XNUMXth century, and during this time large quantities were mined. But there are minerals that were discovered quite recently. They exist in single copies, and their owners are known by name. It is these minerals that will be discussed further. What stones are called minerals Stones can be roughly divided into two types – rocks and minerals. But how are minerals different from rocks? Minerals are usually called parts of rocks, ores, and meteorites that are homogeneous in composition and structure. They arise as a result of natural geological processes and are a chemical compound or chemical element. Rocks are a combination of one or more minerals; accordingly, they have a heterogeneous structure. According to the US Geological Society, minerals are elements and compounds that are not organic, meaning they do not contain carbon. However, according to the International Mineralogical Association (IMA), minerals also include some salt-like organic compounds, such as oxalates, mellitates, acetates, etc. Mineral kiavtuit How many copies of one mineral must exist on Earth for it to be considered the rarest? Of course one! That is why kiavtuit (kyautuit) was awarded such a title. It was discovered in the Mogok region of Myanmar in a single copy. A description of this stone can be found in the Caltech Mineral Database. Kiawthuite is described here as a small, water-polished crystal that is dark orange in color and has a “diamond-like luster.” The size of the single copy is only 1,61 carats. The MMA recognized the mineral relatively recently – in 2015. The description for the stone says that it is fragile. The discovered sample has a fracture and three chips. Unfortunately, there is very little information about this mineral. Mineral painite The second rare mineral, which will be discussed further, was also discovered in Myanmar. We are talking about painite, which was first discovered in 1956. The mineral belongs to the class of borates, that is, minerals based on salts of orthoboric acid (H3BO3). This stone was named in honor of its discoverer, mineralogist and collector Arthur Payne. Painite is a hexagonal crystal, usually dark red in color, but sometimes pink specimens are found. Externally it looks like a ruby. Moreover, Arthur Payne himself in 1952 acquired two crimson-colored crystals in Myanmar under the guise of rubies. The collector did not even suspect that he had come into his hands with something much rarer than just the rubies for which Myanmar is famous. Until 2001, there were only three small painite crystals in the world. Then their number increased to 25. In 2006, a deposit of these crystals was discovered here in Myanmar. They are found, in fact, in the same place where rubies are found. However, all stones mined since 2006 are of much lower quality than the first crystals discovered before 2006. The latest study to date on painite (namely, the very first stone purchased in 1952 by Arthur Pen) was published in 2018 in Mineralogical Magazine. The author of the study, George Rossman, was able to find out that the mineral, as previous studies had shown, contains aluminum, boron, calcium and oxygen. But there is no zirconium in its composition, which suggests that the British Museum scientists made a mistake in their first studies. Why does the stone look like a ruby? It contains vanadium and chromium, which give it its red color. But the most important feature, and even the mystery, of this mineral is that it contains boron and zirconium. These substances do not bind well to each other. In fact, painite is the only mineral in which these two substances occur in nature in a combined state. The reason for this is still unclear. Even though painite is now a much more common mineral than it was just 20 years ago, quality crystals suitable for jewelry are still very scarce. Therefore, the cost of the crystal reaches 60 thousand US dollars per carat.

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• earth minerals

Currently, science knows more than 5300 minerals existing on Earth, and this list will expand every year. However, not many rare gemstones are known – about 200 varieties. But which of these minerals is the rarest and most expensive? Someone will probably say that such a stone is a diamond. It is indeed very expensive, but it still cannot be called rare. Diamonds were discovered back in the XNUMXth century, and during this time large quantities were mined. But there are minerals that were discovered quite recently. They exist in single copies, and their owners are known by name. It is these minerals that will be discussed further.

Science knows more than 5300 minerals, but some of them exist in single copies.

What stones are called minerals

Stones can be roughly divided into two types – rocks and minerals. But how are minerals different from rocks? Minerals are usually called parts of rocks, ores, and meteorites that are homogeneous in composition and structure. They arise as a result of natural geological processes and are a chemical compound or chemical element. Rocks are a combination of one or more minerals; accordingly, they have a heterogeneous structure.

According to the US Geological Society, minerals are elements and compounds that are not organic, meaning they do not contain carbon. However, according to the International Mineralogical Association (IMA), minerals also include some salt-like organic compounds, such as oxalates, mellitates, acetates, etc.

Kyawtuit is the rarest mineral in the world, which exists in only one copy

Mineral kiavtuit

How many copies of one mineral must exist on Earth for it to be considered the rarest? Of course one! That is why kiavtuit (kyautuit) was awarded such a title. It was discovered in the Mogok region of Myanmar in a single copy. Let us recall that Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a multinational state located in Southeast Asia. It borders India, China, Bangladesh, Laos and Thailand.

A description of kiawthuite can be found in the Caltech Mineral Database. It is a small, water-polished dark orange crystal with a “diamond shine.” The size of the single copy is only 1,61 carats.

The mineral kiawtuit was recognized by the MMA in 2015

It must be said that the MMA recognized the mineral relatively recently – in 2015. The description for the stone says that it is fragile. The discovered sample has a fracture and three chips. Unfortunately, there is very little information about this mineral.

Mineral painite

The second rare mineral, which will be discussed further, was also discovered in Myanmar. We are talking about painite, which was first discovered in 1956. The mineral belongs to the class of borates, that is, minerals based on salts of orthoboric acid (H3BO3). This stone was named in honor of its discoverer, mineralogist and collector Arthur Payne.

The rare mineral painite – until 2001, only three specimens existed.

Painite is a hexagonal crystal, usually dark red in color, but sometimes pink specimens are found. Externally it looks like a ruby. Moreover, Arthur Payne himself in 1952 acquired two crimson-colored crystals in Myanmar under the guise of rubies. The collector did not even suspect that he had come into his hands with something much rarer than just the rubies for which Myanmar is famous.

Did you know that there is a planet in space with sapphire and ruby ​​clouds? The temperature on it reaches 2500 degrees Celsius.

Until 2001, there were only three small painite crystals in the world. Then their number increased to 25. In 2006, a deposit of these crystals was discovered here in Myanmar. They are found, in fact, in the same place where rubies are found. However, all stones mined since 2006 are of much lower quality than the first crystals discovered before 2006.

The latest study to date on painite (namely, the very first stone purchased in 1952 by Arthur Pen) was published in 2018 in Mineralogical Magazine. The author of the study, George Rossman, was able to find out that the mineral, as previous studies had shown, contains aluminum, boron, calcium and oxygen.

Science knows only one deposit of painite

Why does the stone look like a ruby? It contains vanadium and chromium, which give it its red color. But the most important feature, and even the mystery, of this mineral is that it contains boron and zirconium. These substances do not bind well to each other. In fact, painite is the only mineral in which these two substances occur in nature in a combined state. The reason for this is still unclear.

Even though painite is now a much more common mineral than it was just 20 years ago, quality crystals suitable for jewelry are still very scarce. Therefore, the cost of the crystal reaches 60 thousand US dollars per carat. By comparison, the cost of one carrat of quality ruby ​​ranges from US$500 to US$8000, depending on the quality. The cost of one carat of an average quality diamond is about 1000-1500 US dollars.

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Why are rare stones found in Myanmar?

Many rare gemstones are found in Myanmar, and some of them, as we found out, only exist here. What is this connected with? It’s all about the geological history of the region. About 180 million years ago, the supercontinent Gondwana began to break up, which subsequently broke up into Africa, South America, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, as well as Arabia, Madagascar and Hindustan.

Moreover, Hindustan was initially separated from South Asia, but at some point collided with it. It was thanks to this event, or rather the enormous pressure and temperature that arose at the moment of the collision, that many rocks and rare precious minerals arose. As you probably guessed, Myanmar is located right at the junction of Hindustan and South Asia, where new minerals were formed.

The continent of Gondwana began to break apart 180 million years ago, causing India to collide with Asia

The presence of certain chemical elements in the composition of minerals is explained by the characteristics of the region. For example, according to George Rossman, boron got into painite and other borate minerals from shallow seas located around the newly formed landmass.

Finally, we note that scientists, as we said, find new minerals every year, not only on Earth, but also in space. Some of them can be very useful on our planet. For example, not long ago we talked about a lunar mineral that can serve as a source of energy.