Milarite

Rare mineral of the silicates and germanates class. Member of a complex group of silicates known as milarite group, osumilite group or milarite-osumilite group. The group currently (2025) has 23 members the most prominent of which is sugilite.

^{Milarite from Rössing, Namibia}

Origin of name: named in 1870 by German physicist and mineralogist Albin Weisbach after Val (valley) Milà in Canton of Grisons, Switzerland, the alleged source of the samples examined by Weisbach. As it happens, the material was from a neighbouring valley, the Val Giuv. Despite this error the name Milarite persisted.

Synonyms and trade names: none

Can be confused with: due to crystal habit and paragenesis milarite is readily confused with apatite, beryl, quartz, scapolite e.a.

Localities: milarite is rare. As of 2025 Mindat lists only 168 localities, 133 of which are in Europe. However, due to milarites similarity to other minerals, chances are that it is overlooked often and that it is not quite so rare after all.

Handling: milarites physical properties make it reasonably well-suited for use in jewellery. However, milarite of gem quality is extremely rare and in fact is cut for collectors only.