The world’s rarest mineral was examined 17:00

The mineral, called Kiawthuite, is considered the rarest mineral in the world, as the only known example has been found only once. The portal reports this Science Alert.

Kiawtuit is a small amber-orange stone weighing only 1.61 carats (about one-third of a gram). Although it may look like topaz or amber at first glance, its unique chemical composition makes this mineral priceless.

The stone was purchased by gemologist Kyaw Thu from the Chaung Gyi market in Myanmar in 2010. He initially thought the mineral was scheelite, but after cutting the stone he realized he was faced with something unusual.

Kyau Thu sent the stone to the Gemological Research Laboratory in Bangkok for research. There scientists discovered that the composition of the mineral Bi₃⁺Sb₅⁺O₄ had never been found before in nature.

Hollow inclusions called “veins” were found inside the mineral, which appeared under the influence of shear stress and indicate its natural origin. Geologists suggest that kiawthuite forms in igneous rocks, especially pegmatites. This is a type of volcanic rock where large gemstone crystals are often found.

Traces of titanium, niobium, tungsten and uranium were found in kiavtuite. Their formation is consistent with processes occurring during the cooling of magma. However, the conditions for the formation of this mineral probably require a special combination of factors, and this still remains a mystery to scientists.

The only known example of the mineral is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. Jn is considered invaluable. For comparison, painite, the second rarest mineral in the world, is estimated at 50-60 thousand dollars (about six million rubles) per carat.

Kiavtuite continues to attract the attention of scientists and gemologists, remaining an unsolved mystery of nature.

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