Painite is a rare borate mineral named after British mineralogist and gem dealer Arthur Charles Davy Pain in 1951. The mineral is often associated with corundum in gem gravels. Pain originally thought the material to be ruby, but after additional study it was found to be a new mineral in 1957. It is extremely rare, and it is currently only known to come from a few locations in Myanmar. The crystal typically forms in elongated hexagonal prisms, but sometimes can be pseudo-orthorhombic.

General Information

Classification
Optical Properties
Characteristic Physical Properties
Chemistry & Crystallography

Common Name

Painite

Transparency

Semitranslucent-Transparent

Refractive Index

1.787-1.816

Birefringence

0.027- 0.029

Optic Character

Uniaxial

Optic Sign

Negative

Polariscope Reaction

Doubly Refractive (DR)

Fluorescence

SWUV: Reddish or greenish
LWUV: Inert to strong red

Pleochroism

Dichroic, strong red, brownish orange to reddish orange or yellowish brown to brownish violet

Hardness

Streak

White

Specific Gravity

3.996-4.030 Typical 4.01

Toughness

Good

Inclusions

Feathers

Luster

Vitreous

Stability

Brittle

Fracture

Irregular and Uneven or conchoidal

Cleavage

None

Chemical Name

Calcium Zirconium Aluminum Borate

Chemical Formula

CaZrAl₉O1₅(BO₃)

Crystal System

Hexagonal

Chemistry Classification

Borate

null Colors

Brown
Orange
Red

Countries of Origin

Myanmar

History

In 1951 the British mineralogist and gem dealer Arthur Charles Davy Pain found the first specimen of Painite in Ohngaing, Mogok district, Sagaing, Myanmar. Until recent finds in Myanmar the British Natural History Museum possessed the only known specimen weighing 1.7 grams.

Care

Normal Care