Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni

Examining the Geological and Mineralogical Availability of the Mineral Painite, One of the Most Valuable Gemstones in the World; Is there Painite in Türkiye?

Abstract: Although more than 4.000 minerals discovered in the world to date, some of them are very valuable interms of collection because they are very rare in nature. One of the rarest and most valuable minerals in the world ispainite [CaZrB(Al9O18)]. After its discovery in Myanmar (Burma) in southeast Asia in the 1950s, research has beenconstantly carried out on the possibility of this rare collectible and jewelry stone being found in other countries dueto its very high value. The main purpose of this study is to reveal the mineralogical and gemological properties of themineral painite can be searched for and found in Türkiye. It is known that painites are geologically formed and foundin skarn belts at the contacts of leucogranite of magmatic origin and marbles of metamorphic origin. As a result, ifpainite is to be sought in Türkiye and evaluated as a gemstone; the percentage amounts of the elements Ca, Zr and Bmust be taken in consideration as well as corundum, spinel, etc. in the geochemical composition of this mineral. It should be searched in geological environments of minerals; in particular, metamorphism contacts (skarn belts) and/  their alluviums should be investigated at the contact between igneous rocks and carbonate rocks.