Rare minerals are true treasures of nature, often sought after by collectors and jewelers: painite, red diamond, serenbidite or blue garnet, these form in very particular geological conditions, which limits their training in the bowels of the Earth.
An absolutely rare mineralogical specimen has been discovered in Myanmar (Southeast Asia). The kyawthuite (pronounced “ cha-too-ite ») remains to this day the only copy recorded on our planet. This crystal with amber reflections, weighing 1.61 carats (i.e. a third of a gram), reveals a unique chemical composition with the formula Bi3+Sb5+O4 (bismuth antimonate). Its solitary existence and its unique properties make it an invaluable witness to planetary geological mechanisms that we may still be unaware of.
The discovery of a completely unique mineral
In 2010, in the hustle and bustle of a market in Chaung-gyi (Thameikkyin canton, in central Myanmar), gemologist Kyaw Thu acquired what he presumes to be a sample of scheelitea calcium tungstate mineral. His expertise and intuition led him to take an interest in this stone which he himself describes as “ odd » in an interview given to Myanmar Times in 2016.
After cutting and polishing work, the expert noticed unusual properties which encouraged him to deepen his research. The mineral grain, characterized by a saturated orange hue with reddish nuances and a distinctive white stripe, presents physicochemical characteristics with no known equivalent. The in-depth analyzes subsequently carried out at the laboratory of the Gemmological Institute of America in Bangkok confirm the exceptional nature of its discovery: a crystal structure of bismuth antimonate (BiSbO4) never observed in nature before.
Crystallization under high voltage
This kyawthuite is the fruit of a genesis which we think is very complex. Geological analyzes converge towards a magmatic origin, closely linked to pegmatites, these rock formations characteristic of the Burmese subsoil. A pegmatite is a large-grained intrusive igneous rock, that is to say it is formed by the slow cooling of a magma rich in volatile elements (such as water and fluorine) inside the earth's crust.
Like an underground natural laboratory, these volcanic rocks therefore constitute the ideal crucible for the formation of atypical crystals. The structure of pegmatite, comparable to that of a fruit cake where different minerals coexist, provides an environment very conducive to crystallization; some crystals can even measure up to several meters.
Kyawthuite developed there through a unique process, alongside other more common crystals. Its formation bears the distinctive marks of the geological forces at work: tubular veins, called ” in step », run through its structure, proof of the intense mechanical stresses undergone during its crystallization. These patterns can be considered as real geological scars, which attest to the authenticity of its natural formation.
Its geochemical signature is also very particular.. The simultaneous presence of titanium, niobium, tungsten and uranium constitutes a characteristic marker of pegmatitic formations. Laboratory experiments provided additional insight: the crystallization of bismuth antimonate requires specific temperatures, corresponding precisely to those observed in the magma in the cooling phase, once the volcano has expelled it.
However, this enigma remains: if pegmatites are relatively common in this region of Myanmar, why has this mineral been discovered only once? This uniqueness suggests the intervention of particular environmental conditions, a conjunction of factors so specific qit would have only occurred once in known geological history.
Currently preserved at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, this kyawthuite mineral is simply priceless. For comparison, painite, cited in the introduction to this article, considered the second rarest mineral in the world, reaches valuations of between 50,000 and 60,000 dollars per carat. Gold, for its part, sells for around $12 per carat depending on its price. If it were a painting, the kyawthhuite would be comparable to The Mona Lisa minerals and will therefore never be exposed to market speculation.
- Kyawthuite, discovered in Myanmar, is a unique mineral with a unique chemical composition (Bi3+Sb5+O4).
- It crystallized in pegmatites under extremely rare and specific geological conditions.
- Preserved at the Los Angeles Museum, it is a priceless scientific treasure and the rarest mineral in the world.
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