Kyawthuite Explained

Kyawthuite
Category:	Oxide mineral
Formula:	Bi^3+Sb^5+O4
Imasymbol:	Kyw^[1]
System:	Monoclinic
Class:	Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol)
Symmetry:	I2/c
Unit Cell:	a = 5.46, b = 4.89 c = 11.85 [Å], β = 101.20° (approximated); Z = 4

Kyawthuite is a rare mineral^[2] with a simple formula: Bi³⁺Sb⁵⁺O₄.^[3] It is a natural bismuth antimonate. Kyawthuite is monoclinic, with space group I2/c, and is isostructural with clinocervantite, its trivalent-antimony-analogue.^[4] Kyawthuite is also an antimony-analogue of clinobisvanite.^[5] 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 has been found and is stored at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.^[7]

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.