Painite is one of the world's rarest gem minerals, first discovered in the Mogok region of Myanmar. It typically occurs as hexagonal prismatic crystals and is prized by collectors for its extreme scarcity and deep, saturated reddish-brown color.
Is this painite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch painite with a known reference. Painite sits at Mohs ~8, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brownish, brownish red, orange red, red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: hexagonal, prismatic.
Often confused with
Painite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside painite
Minerals reported to co-occur with painite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaZrAl₉O₁₅(BO₃)
- Mohs hardness
- ~8
- Density
- 4.01-4.03 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Hexagonal, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Gemstone
- Host rock
- In gem gravels
Where rockhounds find painite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ohngaing, Mogok district, Sagaing, Myanmar (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In gem gravels. If you start seeing corundum, phlogopite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: hexagonal, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify painite?+
Where is painite found?+
What rocks look like painite?+
What minerals are found with painite?+
What kind of rock does painite form in?+
What is painite used for?+
Find painite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
