A deep garnet red hue with exquisite brilliance: it’s no wonder that painite was once mistaken for a ruby. But while this gem doesn’t have quite the same value as a ruby, it is far rarer.
With just over a few hundred painite crystals known today, this ruby-hued gem is beautiful but also enigmatic. When it was discovered in the 1950s, little was known about what would come from painite deposits. While more painite may be discovered in the future, for now, it’s left its mark with its unique properties and stunning colors.
There’s a reason why some types of painite have been mistaken for rubies. Painite colors include deep red and garnet. However, it can also be reddish-brown, muddy brown, and even rusty orange. Painite of the highest value is a deeper red or bright garnet. Orange-brown is the rarest color of painite.
Painite’s crystal formation is hexagonal and pseudo-orthorhombic. Crystals with a pseudo-orthorhombic indicate angles with unequal axes. Painite luminescence is a faint red to strong red, and sometimes greenish.
Aries is a Fire sign, characterized by courage, determination, and a pioneering spirit. Painite amplifies these qualities, turning them up. This isn’t just a stone you carry; it’s a stone that carries you, propelling you forward in life and charging you with almost infectious enthusiasm.
Taurus is the anchor of the zodiac, an Earth sign that values stability, beauty, and sensual pleasures. In a sense, Painite helps you cultivate an even richer appreciation for the finer things in life while also emphasizing the importance of spiritual wealth.
Mars is the planet of war, courage, and action. When you interact with this gemstone, you might feel a surge of adrenaline, a heightened focus, and a sense of daring that beckons you to plunge into new challenges.
It’s almost like Mars itself whispers through the stone, amplifying your courage and daring you to take the lead. Both Mars and Painite share an affiliation with the element of Fire. This element is the epitome of transformation, of forging will into action.
Painite acts like a spiritual crucible, pushing you to evolve, to take action, and to face life’s challenges head-on, just as Mars would encourage you to do. When you’re feeling listless, indecisive, or stuck in a rut, a Painite gemstone can act like a battery recharge for your soul.
Color: Deep garnet-red
brownish red-orange
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent.
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Crystal habit: Elongated crystals, pseudo-orthorhombic
Hardness is 8
Fracture subconchoidal
Specific Gravity is 4.01
Streak: Red
The chemical composition of painite is unique. The conditions required for painite to form are very specific. The temperature and pressure need to be just right, and Painite is the only mineral that contains both zirconium and boron. These two elements do not normally associate with each other in nature, so it is very rare to find them bonded together in a crystal.
Painite is found in very small quantities. The crystals of painite that have been found are typically very small, often measuring only a few millimeters in size. This makes it difficult to find enough painite to cut into a gemstone.
Painite is often altered by other minerals. The crystals of painite that have been found are often altered by other minerals, such as rutile and hematite. This can make it difficult to identify painite and can also reduce its value.