Perettiite-(Y)

A new mineral from Momeik, Myanmar

Original Paper

Perettiite-(Y), Y ³⁺ ₂ Mn ²⁺ ₄ Fe ²⁺ [Si ₂ B ₈ O ₂₄ ], a new mineral from Momeik, Myanmar

Danisi, Rosa Micaela; Armbruster, Thomas; Libowitzky, Eugen; Wang, Hao A.O.; Günther, Detlef; Nagashima, Mariko; Reusser, Eric; Bieri, Willy

European Journal of Mineralogy Volume 27 Number 6 (2015), p. 793 - 803, published: Dec 14, 2015

Keywords: Perettiite-(Y); Y³⁺₂ Mn²⁺₄ Fe²⁺ [ Si₂ B₈ O₂₄ ]; crystal structure; new mineral; borosilicate; Momeik; Myanmar.

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*Perettiite-(Y) inclusion in a phenakite crystal*

Perettiite-(Y) was found in Burma (Myanmar) by Adolf Peretti which has also been named after him. Dr. Adolf Peretti, the mineral’s discoverer is head gemologist and director of GRS Gemresearch Swisslab AG (Meggen, 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 Lab AG in Adligenswil (new location is Meggen), Switzerland together with researchers from various universities all over the world; one of the finest examples of collaborative endeavour between the world’s most renowned gemologists and scientists.

Perettiite-(Y) with its chemical formula Perettiite-(Y), Y³⁺₂Mn²⁺₄Fe²⁺[Si₂B₈O₂₄] is a new mineral containing some of the rarest elements in the universe, such as yttrium, samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium – the rare earth elements (REE) which were created eons ago by the unimaginable force of multiple supernovae and red giant star explosions. When our planet earth was formed, those elements ended up in nature’s laboratory more than 10 kilometres below the earth’s surface where the Indian and Asian subcontinent collide; it was there that Perettiite was formed as fine needle inclusions in gemstones.

“Realising that Perettiite-(Y) is actually a fingerprint of elements, like an echo from billions of years of history of the universe, was unbelievably humbling.”

— Adolf Peretti

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

Dr. Peretti commissioned the renowned French film-maker (television TF1) Vincent Reynaud to shoot a documentary “From Rock to Treasure – A Lifetime Experience”. The program follows the journey of a ruby from its discovery in the mines of Burma along through the cutting process of a high value ruby rough.

A celebration of Dr. Peretti’s lifetime of scientific discoveries, the premiere of his new movie and the baptizing of an actual “Perettiite” crystal, together with a “Thank You & 20th Anniversary Party” for all supporters and scientists who helped GRS Gemresearch Swisslab AG to become the vibrant and well-equipped state-of-the-art Swiss laboratory which it is today, was held on 29th August 2015 at the Park Hotel Vitznau in Switzerland.