Taaffeite 6.337 ct with certificate

Taaffeite (pronounced "tah-fait", "tar-fait" or "taw-fight" ) is a transparent gemstone known for its beautiful mauve color and rarity.

If you've ever wondered which gemstones are among the rarest in the world, taaffeite is one of them. Furthermore, the taaffeite variant, musgravite, is among the rarest gemstones.

But is taaffeite the rarest gemstone? No, the number one spot among the rarest gemstones in the world goes to painite.

In addition to its rarity, taaffeite is also known for having been historically confused with spinel. Another unique feature of taaffeite is that it is the only gemstone to be officially identified for the first time through the analysis of a faceted specimen.

Curious? If you'd like to learn more before you consider taaffeite for sale, stay tuned. We'll explain the rarity of taaffeite, as well as the properties, healing powers, history, and prices of this gemstone!

About Taaffeite Stone

Although taaffeite is rarer and more expensive than some gemstones, it is a semiprecious stone. An alternative name for taaffeite is bemagalite.

Now, how rare is taaffeite?

In 1982, the journal Gems & Gemology reported that only ten identified taaffeite stones were known. Although more material may be discovered, the supply of high-quality taaffeite stones remains limited.

There's a notorious (and historical) confusion between taaffeite and spinel. Spinel is also considered a "faux" gemstone, such as ruby. We'll discuss the differences in the next section. One benefit of this confusion, however, is that taaffeite can serve as a substitute for the August birthstone!

Specifications and properties of Taaffeit

Taaffeite is a beryllium-magnesium-aluminum oxide mineral with the chemical formula BeMg3Al8O16. Common impurities include iron, manganese, zinc, vanadium, and chromium. The proper mineral name for taaffeite is magnesiotaaffeite-2N2S.

The mineral taaffeite belongs to the taaffeite mineral group of the same name. This mineral group is divided into two subgroups: ferrotaaffeite (iron-rich) and magnesiotaaffeite (magnesium-rich).

Interestingly, taaffeite is the first discovered mineral composed predominantly of magnesium and beryllium. Like the beryllium mineral beryl, taaffeite ranks similarly high on the Mohs hardness scale.

This stone forms prismatic crystals, albeit at a microscopic size. It is best known in faceted gemstones and rounded stones resembling pebbles.