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 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.

## 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.

## 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.

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

## 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.

## 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. 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.

## 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.**
- Painite has been featured in high-end jewelry pieces, such as engagement rings and pendants.

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

## Infobox (mineral)

- **name**: Painite
- **category**: Borate minerals
- **image**: Painite2.jpg
- **caption**: Painite from Myanmar, 2 cm long
- **formula**: CaZrAl<sub>9</sub>O<sub>15</sub>(BO<sub>3</sub>)
- **imasymbol**: Pai
- **strunz**: 6.AB.85
- **dana**: 7.5.2.1
- **system**: Hexagonal crystal system, Hexagonal
- **class**: Dipyramidal (6/m)
<small>(same H-M symbol), although earlier reported as hexagonal (6)</small>
- **symmetry**: _P6_<sub>3</sub>/m
- **unit cell**: a = 8.72 Å,
c = 8.46 Å; Z = 2
- **color**: Red, brownish, orange-red
- **habit**: Elongated crystals, pseudo-orthorhombic
- **mohs**: 7.5 – 8
- **luster**: Vitreous
- **refractive**: n<sub>o</sub> = 1.8159, n<sub>e</sub> = 1.7875
- **opticalprop**: Uniaxial (-)
- **pleochroism**: Ruby-red parallel to [0001]; pale brownish orange or pale
red-orange at right angles to [0001]
- **streak**: Red
- **gravity**: 4.01
- **melt**: 2094
- **solubility**: Insoluble in acids
- **diaphaneity**: Transparent