Painite with Corundum var. Ruby

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Painite is one of the most rare of species, known from only a few discoveries. Here a relatively large and doubly terminated Painite crystal from the type locality near Mogok, Burma (Myanmar). This specimen was part of the big and never-repeated discoveries in the region in 2005. It is a large, brown-red, prismatic crystal of this complex calcium zirconium aluminum borate-oxide adorned with pink-red, 0.5-1.0 mm Ruby crystals. Exposed prism faces of Painite display a moderate luster while the Ruby crystals exhibit a very high luster. This is a large and unique specimen with the Painite and the Ruby overgrowth. Because of the Ruby, the piece fluoresces red in both short and long wave UV. The crystals from this pocket are the largest of their species. I was told soon after the discovery, that the area was literally strip-mined and is gone. Note that this is an early specimen, Bill purchased in Burma, and at the time thought was embedded with spinel rather than ruby. It is a huge, truly important crystal with no repairs.