Painite
Mineral CaZrAl9O15(BO3)
About it
Once called the rarest gem in the world, with only a few crystals known; since 2005 many dark red-brown prisms have been found near Mogok, Myanmar. Named for British gem dealer Arthur Pain.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Borate
- Formula
- CaZrAl9O15(BO3)
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 8
- Specific gravity
- 4–4.05
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Colours
- brownish red, red, orange-red, brown
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.