Crystals are a type of mineral formed into a certain predictable pattern of molecules.
Crystals are minerals that form in geometric patterns depending on the elements they contain. Crystals have sharp edges that form predictable patterns and angles. Crystals include grains of salt and sugar as well as diamonds and other gemstones. Rare crystals are those that form under certain rare conditions; they are difficult to find.
Painite
Painite was first found in Myanmar in 1956 and as of 2005, only 18 specimens of the crystal were known to exist. Some of these specimens have been cut into gemstones, meaning the edges have been polished and refined. Painite ranges in color from pink to reddish brown and has a hexagonal shape. The hardness of this crystal is eight on the Mohn scale of mineral hardness, where 10 is the hardest.
Majorite
Majorite was discovered in 1970 is western Australia. It is formed at depths of 250 miles below the earth's surface. Impacts from meteors form the crystals below ground. It has also been found at sites in France and may exist under meteor craters on the moon. Majorite is brown or yellow. It is related to garnets and has a hardness rating of seven.
Boleite
Boleite is named for the region of Boleo, near Baja, California, where it was first discovered in 1891. As of 2011, boleite has not been found outside of this coastal region. The color of this crystal ranges from deep blue to indigo with a pearly luster, and it exhibits a blue-green shade in sharp light. It is a soft crystal with a hardness rating of only 3.5.
Benitoite
Benitoite takes its name from San Benito County, California, where it was discovered. Benitoite is the state gemstone of California. As of 2011, San Benito County is the only place benitoite has been found. The color of this mineral crystal ranges from sapphire blue to opaque white to pink and it has a medium hardness of 6.
Red Beryl
Red beryl is a rare crystal first found in the Thomas Range in Juab County, Utah. As of 2011, Utah was the only state in which red beryl had been found. The standard color of this types of beryl is a punch-red shade. The hardness of red beryl is 7.5 to 8, making it one of the harder crystals. It forms a hexagonal pattern like painite.
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