Painite

About Painite

Once held the Guinness World Record for the rarest mineral on Earth. Only 2-3 crystals were known for decades after its discovery in Myanmar in the 1950s. Over 1,000 specimens have since been found but gem-quality material remains extraordinarily rare. It was named after British gemologist Arthur C.D. Pain. It contains zirconium, boron, and calcium. It fluoresces red under UV light. It is hexagonal with high refractive index. Faceted gems almost never appear on the market. When they do, prices can exceed $50,000 per carat. New finds in Myanmar have slightly increased availability but it remains one of the rarest gem minerals.