Painite
Rare borate mineral named after its discoverer, Arthur C.D. Pain.
Painite is a rare borate mineral first found in Myanmar by British mineralogist and gem dealer Arthur C.D. Pain, who initially misidentified it as ruby. It was later recognized as a new gemstone in the 1950s and named after Pain. Its rarity stems from the uncommon natural interaction of zirconium and boron.
- type
- Mineral
- chemical_formula
- CaZrAl9O15(BO3)
- color
- Orange-red to brownish-red
- crystal_system
- Hexagonal (may also be euhedral or orthorhombic)
- discoverer
- Arthur C.D. Pain
- first_found
- Myanmar
Lore & Background
Painite was first discovered in Myanmar by British mineralogist and gem dealer Arthur C.D. Pain, who misidentified it as ruby. It was not until the 1950s that it was confirmed as a new mineral species and subsequently named after him. The mineral's chemical composition includes calcium, zirconium, boron, aluminum, and oxygen, with trace amounts of chromium and vanadium giving it an orange-red to brownish-red color similar to topaz.
Reader's Guide
Painite is significant primarily for its extreme rarity, which is due to the uncommon natural interaction of zirconium and boron. Extensive exploration in the Mogok area of Myanmar has since yielded several thousand new specimens, though the mineral remains confined to a very small region. Its discovery and naming after Arthur C.D. Pain highlight the role of individual mineralogists in expanding the known catalog of minerals. Painite's hexagonal crystal structure and occasional euhedral or orthorhombic forms contribute to its interest among collectors and mineralogists.
Did You Know?
- Painite was first misidentified as ruby by its discoverer, Arthur C.D. Pain.
- The mineral's color comes from trace amounts of chromium and vanadium.
- Painite's rarity is due to zirconium and boron rarely interacting in nature.
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