Kyawthuite Explained

Kyawthuite
Category:	Oxide mineral
Formula:	BiSbO4
Imasymbol:	Kyw^[1]
System:	Monoclinic
Class:	Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol)
Unit Cell:	a =, b = c =, β = 101.20° (approximated);

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 and on display 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