Kyawthuite Explained

Kyawthuite is a rare mineral^[2] with formula BiSbO₄.^[3] It is a natural bismuth antimonate, in which bismuth has oxidation state 3, and antimony oxidation state 5.

Description

Kyawthuite is monoclinic, with space group, and is isostructural with clinocervantite, its trivalent-antimony-analogue.^[4] Kyawthuite is an antimony-analogue of clinobisvanite.^[5]

Occurrence

Kyawthuite was discovered in the vicinity of Mogok in Myanmar, an area famous for its variety of gemstone minerals.^[6]

Only one 0.3 gram sample of the naturally occurring form of this mineral is documented, and it is stored at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.^{[7] [8]}

Notes and References

1. Warr. L.N.. 2021. IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine. 85. 3. 291–320. 10.1180/mgm.2021.43. 2021MinM...85..291W. 235729616. free.
2. Web site: Kyawthuite: Kyawthuite mineral information and data . Mindat.org . 2016-03-04.
3. Kampf, A.R., Rossman, G.R. and Ma, C. (2015) Kyawthuite, IMA 2015-078. CNMNC Newsletter No. 28, December 2015, 1863; Mineralogical Magazine 79, 1859–1864
4. Web site: Clinocervantite: Clinocervantite mineral information and data . Mindat.org . 2016-03-09.
5. Web site: Clinobisvanite: Clinobisvanite mineral information and data . Mindat.org . 2016-03-09.
6. Web site: Mogok Township, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District, Mandalay Division, Myanmar - Mindat.org . Mindat.org . 2016-03-04.
7. Web site: Luntz . Stephen . There Is Only One Specimen Of The Rarest Mineral On Earth . IFLScience . 26 January 2023 . 30 January 2023 . en.
8. Starr, Michelle, The World's Rarest Mineral Is So Rare It's Only Ever Been Found Once, Science Alert, November 29, 2024