The Discovery Of A New Mineral – Perettiite

The mineral, called Perettiite, was described by Dr. Peretti as “a fantastically beautiful needle-like orange mineral with a new crystal structure discovered in the Mogok market in Myanmar of Burma”

Naming the mineral after Dr. Peretti is a lifetime achievement for every scientist, according to GRS.

All gemstones are rare, since they constitute a tiny percentage of the minerals found on earth. But some gemstones varieties are extremely rare, in so far as only a small number of gem-quality specimens are known to exist. Very rare gems hold a special interest for the collector. Most rare gems are rare specimens of a more common species.

The new mineral perettiite-(Y), end-member formula Y 3+ 2 Mn2+ 4 Fe 2+ [Si 2 B 8 O24]

, from pegmatites in the region of Momeik, north of Mogok, Myanmar, occurs as yellow needles enclosed in Phenakite crystals. The mineral was named after the mineralogist and gemologist Dr. Adolf  Peretti. The empirical formula using LA-ICP-MS data (based on 24 O pfu ) is Y 2.06 Ln 0.53 Zr0.02 Th0.01 Mn3.24 Ca0.38 Fe 0.71 Mg0.07 Al0.11 Li0.22 Si 1.95 B 7.44 Be0.31 O24.

Burma

Burma, the “Golden Land,” is a mostly Buddhist country whose history can be traced back to the Neolithic era. The first known city-states emerged in central Burma around the 2nd century BC by Pyu tribes who initiated trade with India and brought Buddhism to the region.

GRS announces the discovery of a new mineral; Perettiite-(Y) found in Burma (Myanmar) by Dr. Adolf Peretti which has also been named for him. Dr. Adolf Peretti mineral’s discoverer is head gemologist and director of GRS Gemresearch Swisslab AG (Adligenswil, Switzerland).

“Perettiite” was identified after months of intense laboratory sessions with the support of a highly accomplished team of gemologists at his GRS Gemresearch Swiss Laboratory AG in Adligenswil, Lucerne, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year; one of the finest examples of collaborative endeavor between the world’s most renowned gemologists and scientists. Perettiite-(Y) with its chemical formula Perettiite-(Y), Y Mn Fe [Si B O]

is a new mineral containing some of the rarest elements in the universe, such as Yttrium, Samarium and Gadolinium.

Samarium is a rare earth metal having the hardness and density similar to those of zinc . With the boiling point of 1794 °C, samarium is the third most volatile lanthanide after ytterbium and europium ; this property facilitates separation of samarium from the mineral ore.

Gadolinium is a chemical element with symbol Gd and atomic number 64. It is a silvery-white, malleable and ductile rare-earth metal. It is found in nature only in combined (salt) form.

Naming the mineral after Dr. Peretti is a lifetime achievement for every scientist, according to GRS.

“It summarises the scientific community’s perception of the role of GRS in the industry and its contributions to mineralogy and gemmology over the last two decades,” the gem laboratory added.

GRS said it was likewise instrumental in helping the industry detect synthetics and new treatments for coloured gemstones, having accomplished a multitude of studies in this area. The company specialises in treatment detection for sapphire, spinel and ruby.

Locating and retrieving samples of Perettiite was yet another of the many expeditions Dr. Peretti has taken upon himself during his thirty years of scientific discoveries. It lead him close to Momeik, an area about 30 kilometers north of Mogok in Burma, during an ongoing war between the Kashin state and the Burmese government. It is an area where, according to him, “the geology goes crazy and still a lot of research is needed to bring all the mystery together.” It’s in this “Terra Incognita” in Burma that Perettiite was found, which very much reflects his lifestyle – always pushing the edge of science forward.