A Sri Lankan Discovery
Ekanite is a rare gemstone first identified from Sri Lanka's gem gravels in the 1950s and named after F. L. D. Ekanayake, the Sri Lankan gem dealer who discovered it. It's a genuine "named-in-Sri-Lanka" gem and a prize for serious collectors.
What It Looks Like
Ekanite is typically green to brownish-green (sometimes reddish), translucent to transparent, with a hardness around 6–6.5. Cut stones can show an attractive glassy lustre.
An Unusual Property: Metamictisation
Ekanite contains thorium and uranium, making it mildly radioactive. Over geological time this radiation breaks down its own crystal structure — a process called metamictisation — so the mineral is often found in a partly "amorphous" (glass-like) state rather than perfectly crystalline. Because of the radioactivity, it's treated as a display/collector specimen rather than an everyday jewellery stone.
Why Collectors Want It
- Rarity — facetable ekanite is scarce.
- Sri Lankan heritage — discovered and named on the island.
- Scientific interest — a textbook example of a metamict mineral.
See the Gem Country
Explore where Sri Lanka's rare gems come from — browse Ratnapura accommodation and the Island of Gems overview.
Quick Facts
| Mineral | Ekanite |
| Colour | Green to brownish-green |
| Hardness | ~6–6.5 (Mohs) |
| Discovered | Sri Lanka, 1950s |
| Named after | F. L. D. Ekanayake (its discoverer) |
| Note | Mildly radioactive (collector display gem) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is ekanite named after? F. L. D. Ekanayake, the Sri Lankan gem dealer who discovered it.
Why is it radioactive? It contains thorium and uranium, which over time break down its own crystal structure (metamictisation).
Can I wear it as jewellery? Because of its mild radioactivity, it's usually treated as a display/collector specimen rather than an everyday stone.
Why do collectors want it? Its rarity, Sri Lankan heritage, and scientific interest as a textbook "metamict" mineral.