The Rarest Mineral on Earth: Why It Costs Even More Than Diamonds

In the whole world, there exists only a single specimen of the unique mineral - kyawthuite. Its weight is only 1.61 carats, and its color is a warm yellowish-brown shade, resembling amber. However, its value is far from aesthetic - this crystal has no analogues in nature, which makes it a real sensation for science.

A discovery that changed perceptions about minerals

The history of kyawthuite began in 2010, when gemologist Kyaw Thu from Myanmar accidentally purchased a stone at a local market in Chaung-ji, which he initially mistook for ordinary scheelite. Later, after cutting and detailed analysis, it was discovered: this was a mineral unknown to science.

The sample was sent to the Gemological Institute of America in Bangkok, where specialists determined: in composition it resembles bismuth antimonate - a substance previously known exclusively in laboratory conditions. However, the natural crystalline structure proved to be unique.

What does kyawthuite look like?

The mineral has a rich orange-reddish color and leaves a white streak on a porcelain plate. Inside the crystal are characteristic hollow channels, formed under the influence of colossal pressure. These confirm the natural origin of the stone.

Analysis of the composition showed the presence of rare elements: titanium, niobium, tungsten, and even uranium. This indicates the magmatic origin of the mineral, probably from pegmatites, which form at the late stage of crystallization of volcanic rocks.

Price beyond evaluation

Although one carat of the rarest mineral painite can cost up to 60,000 dollars, kyawthuite cannot be evaluated - it is the only one in the world. Its value is considered priceless.

Today, the crystal is stored in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where it is available as an object of scientific research and cultural admiration. This stone is not just a rarity, but a real geological puzzle, posing new questions to scientists about the deep processes inside the Earth and the possibility of the existence of similar minerals in other parts of the planet.