(ORDO NEWS) — Kiawtuite is a transparent reddish-orange mineral that exists in a single copy, weighing 0.3 grams. It is the rarest mineral in the world today.
There are about 6,000 minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association, and although many of them are classified as “rare”, none of them can rival kiawthuite in terms of rarity.
Named after the Burmese mineralogist-petrologist-gemologist Kiaw Thu, this incredibly rare mineral was discovered in a streambed in Myanmar’s Mogok region by sapphire hunters.
The mineral was recognized by the International Mineralogical Society in 2015. The only specimen ever discovered weighs only 1.61 carats (0.3 grams) and is kept at the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History .
The chemical formula of kiavtuite is Bi3 + Sb 5 + O4 with traces of tantalum.
Interestingly, because bismuth is such a heavy element, the density of kiawthuite is more than eight times that of water, making it particularly heavy despite its tiny size.
The discovery of the rarest mineral in the world was a kind of stroke of luck. The ruby hunters who found it did not understand what kind of treasure fell into their hands, so they put it up for sale in the market.
But Dr. Kiaw Thu, who regularly visited the town of Mogok, noticed that there was something special about this tiny stone.
“Studying in the field and often buying stones in the Hanae market, I could tell that this stone was a little strange and I bought it,” said Dr. Kyaw Thu in an interview with Myanmar Times.
“Then when I got to Yangon, I explored it and determined that it was like no other gem we had ever found.”
Dr. Kiaw Tu bought the world’s only known gem, kiawtuite, in 2010 and worked closely with experts from the US and the International Mineralogical Association, after which it was recognized as a new mineral.
You’re probably wondering how much this tiny, one-of-a-kind gem is worth, but it’s almost impossible to answer this question since the only piece of kiawthuite in the world is not for sale.
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