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Ekanite
 

	Typically occurring in a beautiful green color and once confused with Tourmaline, Ekanite is also known as Ekanit or Ekanita. A rare gem, Ekanite was discovered in 1953 in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon until 1972) and is named for its discoverer F.L.D. Ekanayake.
	Today, gem-quality Ekanite is still occasionally found at Ehiliyagoda (alternatively Ehaliyagoda or Eheliyageda), Ratnapura, Sabaragamuwa province, Sri Lanka.
	Ekanite is a radioactive, however not hazardous, mineral composed of calcium sodium potassium thorium silicate (ThCa2Si8O20). It ranks 6 - 6.5 on the Moh’s hardness scale with a Refractive Index of 1.57 and a Specific Gravity of 3.3. Crystals of Ekanite are translucent and vitreous. Apart from the typical green, Ekanite also occurs in yellow and dark red colors.

Ekanite specimens from Sri Lanka sometimes reveal a weak four-rayed star, but this phenomenon is quite rare. The star form of Ekanite is considered one of the rarest gemstones available. In 1985, a beautiful 161.04 Carat Ekanite cabochon displaying a unique eight-rayed star was found and cut in Sri Lanka. It is considered to be a one-of-a-kind specimen.
 

Ekanite is a very rare gem that it not widely known to the general public. As rarer gemstones are generally more highly prized than more common varieties, Ekanite specimens can command quite high prices, especially those with a vivid green coloring and a nice luster.