At present, there are hundreds of kinds of gemstones that already exist in the world. From a jewelry collection perspective, Normaltan Jewelry recommends that you start with the rarest gemstones. Because of their rarity, many semi-precious stones are worth more than many “valuable” gemstones. Here, according to the “rarity” of gemstones, they are arranged from weak to strong.
The 9 Rarest Gemstones In the World
Discover these precious gemstones
Table of Contents
NO.9:Taaffeite
The 9th rarest gemstones is ‘Taaffeite’.In 1945, Earl Edward Taaffe, an Irish gem expert, bought a box of 1.41ct light purple “spinel” from a jeweler in Dublin, and accidentally found that the gem had a faint double shadow phenomenon; after inspection by the London gem laboratory, its Mohs With a hardness of 8-8.5, it was identified as a new gem variety in 1951 and named “Taaffeite”. The origin of this gemstone is traced back to Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Madagascar. Because this gemstone is so rare, it is considered more precious than diamonds. Ordinary people can’t even meet it.
Taaffeite
NO.8:Tanzanite
The 8th rarest gemstones is ‘Taaffeite’.It belongs to the blue zoisite mineral, which was originally mistaken for “olivine”. With its origins limited to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the gem didn’t come into the public eye until the 1960s. “Tanzanite” is pleochroic and has a Mohs intensity of 6.5.
Because “Tanzanite” is produced in a small area, coupled with external factors such as the long-term war in Tanzania, the mining of this gemstone is very rare. So the value of “Tanzanite” looks likely to skyrocket over time.
Tanzanite
NO.7:Benitoite
The 8th rarest gemstones is “Benitoite”.It is a rare blue silicate mineral containing barium and titanium, with a striking blue color and a hardness of 6.5 on the Mohs scale. This gemstone is only mined near the upper San Benito River in California. But the mine closed in 2006, a situation that directly increased the gem’s scarcity. The gemstone was first discovered in 1907 by geologist George Louderback. Often such gemstones fluoresce under ultraviolet light, which is interesting.
Because “Benitoite” from California is of the highest quality, it was named the official gemstone of California in 1985. Because it is difficult to find good quality ‘Benitoite’ in the right size, it fetches high prices on the open market.
Benitoite
NO.6:Beryl
The 6th rarest gemstones is “Beryl”.It belongs to beryllium aluminum silicate minerals, hexagonal columnar crystals, sometimes with sparse longitudinal grains on the cylinder surface. “Beryl” has a vitreous luster, a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8, and a relative density of 2.63-2.91.
Beryl
“Beryl” occurs mainly in granite pegmatites. Of course, there are also outputs in gas-high-temperature hydrothermal or hydrothermal deposits. In addition to feldspar and quartz, paragenetic minerals also include topaz, spodumene, cassiterite, niobite, fine crystal, tourmaline, etc. Single crystals of “Beryl”, usually in pegmatites, weigh tens of tons.
NO.5:Red and green Beryl
The 5th rarest gemstones is”Red and green Beryl”.It formerly known as “Bixbite”. Its Mohs hardness ranges from 7.5 to 8. Red beryl and pink beryl (morganite) and purple-pink beryl (strawberry beryl) are three completely different varieties of beryl.
Originally discovered in 1904 at the Wah-Wah mine in Utah. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that one in every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds is found. The current production areas include Italy, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, and Brazil.
According to research, pure “Beryl” is colorless and can only get its bright hue from impurities in the rock. The elements chromium and vanadium give “Beryl” its green color (emerald). Elemental iron provides blue or yellow hues and can form aquamarine and golden “Beryl”. The element manganese adds crimson to the red “Beryl”. The red “Beryl” is only found in Utah, New Mexico, and Mexico. A cut “Beryl” generally weighs less than 1 carat, with a 2 or 3-carat “Red and green Beryl” considered the best.
Red and green Beryl
NO.4:Spessartine Garnet
Spessartine is produced in Namibia. When the iron content is high, it will appear orange-red and brown-red. When the iron content is low, it is golden orange. Spessartine has won people’s favor because of its high refractive index and warm color, which is as sweet as citrus.
Spessartine, like garnet, is usually relatively rare in large particles. Orange Spessartine over 3 carats is extremely rare. This gem deposit was first discovered in 1880 in the mountains of Spessart, Germany. So it was named Spessartine, which means forest. Its warm colors are reminiscent of sunlight in the forest.
Spessartine garnet
NO.3:Black Opal
“Black Opal” generally refers to opal with black or gray body color, which is a rare and precious variety in Opal. Opal is the national stone of Australia and the birthstone of October. Almost all “Black Opal” comes from mines in the Lightning Ridge region of New South Wales, Australia. “Black Opal” is not completely black, but has a darker body tone than opals with a lighter body tone. Natural “Black Opal” is the nobleman among opals, and historically “Aurora Australis” (Southern Lights) is one of the most valuable black opals ever found, discovered in Australia in 1938. It weighs 180 carats. It is worth noting that opal is prone to cracks after impact and is very sensitive to changes in temperature.
Black Opal
NO.2:Alexandrite
“Alexandrite” is a rare variety of “Chrysoberyl”, which has a color-changing effect due to the content of “Chromium” (Cr), Mohs hardness of 8.5 specific gravity of 3.71-75, the refractive index of 1.74-76 birefringence 0.008-10
In 1830, “Alexandrite” was first discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia. This gemstone with a red-green discoloration effect was named after the Russian Tsar Alexander II. In sunlight, the gem appears blue-green, but in incandescent light, it appears reddish-purple. Among them, transparent gems whose color can change completely have the highest value.
At present, the “Alexandrite” mine in the Ural Mountains has little output. Other origins are Brazil, Sri Lanka, and East Africa.
Brazil’s “Alexandrite” has a higher international price; Sri Lanka produces “Alexandrite” with larger particles, often showing a brown-red to yellow-green discoloration effect; “Alexandrite” produced in India has smaller particles but high quality Also very good.
Alexandrite
NO.1:Paraíba tourmaline
“Paraíba tourmaline” is the only stone with a bright turquoise hue, which is due to its copper content. Paraíba is a place name in Brazil. As early as 1987, a miner named “Heitor Dimas Barbosa” persisted in digging gemstones under the hills of Paraiba State. After 5 years of persistence, MR. Barbosa finally unearthed an incomparable gemstone. Rainbow blue tourmaline. The gem’s electric sparkle caused an instant sensation. Since then, Paraiba (Paraiba) has been called the king of tourmalines.
Paraíba tourmaline
The above is the 9 kinds of rare gemstone information collected by Normaltan Jewelry for you, hoping to increase your attention and interest in rare gemstones.
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