Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
In the 1980's ? Sorry, I'm a skeptic. The time-line doesn't work. Until the early 2000's only a couple examples were in existence.
I'd get a contemporary lab to verify.
Caltech wrote:
Painite
Painite was once considered one of the rarest minerals on earth. The first painite to be recognized as new mineral (painite #1) was a sample discovered in Burma in the early 1950's. For many years only two crystals of this hexagonal mineral were known to exist. Its chemical formula is ideally: CaZrBAl9O18. However, it also contains minor amounts of chromium and vanadium that contribute to the orange-red to brownish-red color of the mineral plus traces of iron. In addition to zirconium, minor amounts of titanium and hafnium also are part of its composition. While it often appeared in lists of gemstones, only two faceted gemstones had been reported prior to mid-2005. The discovery of a new locality in northern Myanmar in 2002, and the discovery of major new localities in the Mogok area led to the recovery of several thousand crystals and fragments. Nearly complete crystals remain few in number and high quality facet material remains rare, although several hundred crystals and pieces have been faceted to date. Read full article: History of Painite
In the 1980's ? Sorry, I'm a skeptic. The time-line doesn't work. Until the early 2000's only a couple examples were in existence.
I'd get a contemporary lab to verify.
Caltech wrote:
Painite
Painite was once considered one of the rarest minerals on earth. The first painite to be recognized as new mineral (painite #1) was a sample discovered in Burma in the early 1950's. For many years only two crystals of this hexagonal mineral were known to exist. Its chemical formula is ideally: CaZrBAl9O18. However, it also contains minor amounts of chromium and vanadium that contribute to the orange-red to brownish-red color of the mineral plus traces of iron. In addition to zirconium, minor amounts of titanium and hafnium also are part of its composition. While it often appeared in lists of gemstones, only two faceted gemstones had been reported prior to mid-2005. The discovery of a new locality in northern Myanmar in 2002, and the discovery of major new localities in the Mogok area led to the recovery of several thousand crystals and fragments. Nearly complete crystals remain few in number and high quality facet material remains rare, although several hundred crystals and pieces have been faceted to date. Read full article: History of Painite
Only 2 was made in to gem stones in 2005, one I have i got in late 80s 90s was a museum specimen with a list of other different rough stones from Burma, It was listed as a sapphire on host rock but turns out to be painite with rubys on host. lots of photos around and uv shows rubys but it does need to be sent off for a coa. Was from Old Weston park museum just before it went though a refurbished, My teacher at time had no room and was giving stuff away lots of different stones on host rock.
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