English 
Spanish 
3 min read
3 comments
A rare mineral in the world has been found only once, intriguing scientists and becoming one of the most valuable and mysterious materials ever recorded.
In the Mogok region of Myanmar, a small stone was discovered deep in the ground, seemingly ordinary to the eyes of miners, however, it was the rarest mineral in the world.
This crystal, of a reddish-orange hue, did not initially attract attention, since it was among the stones that the hunters sapphires rejected.
However, upon investigation, it turned out to be one of the most extraordinary discoveries in the world. mineral: kyawthuite, the rarest mineral on Earth.
- The world's deepest gold mine: A 3,8km dive into the Earth's interior reveals extreme riches and challenges
- New largest lithium reserve on the planet discovered!? With 30 million tons, historic find could redefine markets and make mining history
- Largest gold reserve on the planet discovered! Worth over US$80 billion, historic find could redefine markets and make mining history
- China makes HISTORIC discovery of 1,15 million tons of RARE EARTHS in Yunnan and consolidates global dominance in the technology industry
The only sample of kyawthuite, weighing 1,61 carats (0,3 grams), was found in 2010, but only gained notoriety after its official identification in 2015.
The mineral was recognized by International Mineralogical Association as a new species, being considered a geological treasure.
It is currently on display at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where it receives special protection due to its uniqueness.
Kyawthuite's unique composition and characteristics
Kyawthuite is a bismuth-antimony oxide, with chemical formula Bi₃⁺Sb₅⁺O₄, and has traces of tantalum.
Although the elements involved are not extremely rare, their unique combination and formation under specific geological conditions make the mineral special.
Its internal structure is fascinating, with layers of antimony and oxygen arranged like a chessboard, next to bismuth atoms.
Surprisingly dense, kyawthuite has a density eight times greater than that of water, making it heavier than it first appears.
Kyawthuite is believed to have formed from pegmatite, an igneous rock generated in the last stages of magma crystallization.
The intense pressure and heat caused by the Indian and Asian tectonic plates during the Paleocene-Eocene were crucial to the creation of this rare mineral, as well as other gemstones in the region, such as painite, the second rarest mineral in the world.
The rarity of kyawthuite is not due to the scarcity of its components — bismuth, antimony and oxygen — but rather to the specific geological conditions necessary for its formation.
The Mogok region, where it was found, is known to be home to a variety of rare minerals, possibly due to the pressures and temperatures resulting from the tectonic collision between India and Asia.
Ethical implications of mining in Myanmar
But Myanmar’s geological beauty belies a troubling reality. Political instability and human rights abuses linked to local mining have led to criticism of child labor conditions and exploitation.
These ethical issues complicate the region's gemstone trade, affecting the research and marketing of minerals such as kyawthuite.
Although synthetic versions of the mineral can be produced more easily and with identical chemical composition, natural kyawthuite carries with it inestimable value.
Their study offers a glimpse into the geological processes that shaped the planet, revealing an ancient history hidden deep within the Earth.
And the battlefield only matters victory, it's winning and winning and winning I win sergioguedes. A rare jewel 💎 is JESUS CHRIST the sinless LIVING GOD ETERNAL LIFE the MOST VALUABLE JEWEL 💎 of ETERNAL LIFE forever
Winning with Ç is a defeat for our language!
Where was it placed on the Periodic Table?