The Painite's inclusions

Inclusions within painite include liquid CO₂, Srilankaite[(Ti,Zr)O₂], Baddeleyite(ZrO₂), a CaAl-silicate, and Calcite(CaCO₃).

Reference
Rossman, G.R., Saw Naung., Harlow, G.E., and Hunt, J. (2005). Painite(CaZrBAl₉O₁₈): A second source in Myanmar and Metasomatic Origins. Goldschmidt Conference Abstracts 2005 Geochemistry of Gem Deposits.

The Chinese name of Painite

硅硼鈣鋁石

Summary : The Chemical Properties of Painite

Painite contains calcium, zirconium, boron, aluminium and oxygen. It also contains trace amounts of chromium, vanadium and iron.

General Information

Chemical Composition : CaZrBAl₉O₁₈
Crystal System : Hexagonal
Color : Red, Brownish, Brownish-red, Orange-red, Pink
Luster : Bright vitreous
Hardness : 8
S.G. : 4.01
R.I. : Uniaxial(-), n_ε=1.787 n_ω=1.816
Streak : White
Locality : Ohngaing village, Mogôk, Burma

Introduction

Painite No 2 is displayed at The Natural History Museum of London.
Photo by John Ho FGA

Painite is one of the rarest minerals on the earth. It has been described by the Guinness Book of World Records as the rarest gem mineral. It comes from Mogôk and Namya in Burma and was named after its discoverer, British gemologist Mr. Arthur Charles Davy Pain.