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Spinel

Spinel

Red, pink, blue, purple, gray, black

Black Blue Pink Purple Red
Optical properties

Optical characteristics

Ref. index
1.712 – 1.762
Luster
Vitreous
Pleochroism
None Variable depending on transparency, orientation, and variety.
Fluorescence
Variable to inert.
Origins

Source localities

Myanmar Myanmar: Mogok Valley
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Classic source for ruby, sapphire, spinel and other collector gems.

30% est. supply
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka: Ratnapura / Elahera
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Classic Ceylon source for sapphire and many alluvial gems; known for bright colors and good clarity.

18% est. supply
Tanzania Tanzania: Merelani Hills
Major

Major source for tanzanite, garnet, spinel, tourmaline, ruby and fancy sapphires.

10% est. supply
Tajikistan Tajikistan: Kuh-i-Lal / Badakhshan
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Historic source of spinel and gem material.

18% est. supply
Vietnam Vietnam: Luc Yen / Quy Chau
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Known for ruby, sapphire, spinel and rare gems.

16% est. supply
Tanzania Tanzania: Mahenge
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Mahenge spinel is among the world's finest, noted for vivid neon pink-red hues.

8% est. supply
Inclusions

Inclusions & features

Crystals Crystal Inclusions Under 10x loupe: solid, well-formed mineral crystals trapped inside the host gem. They may… Fractures Feathers and Fractures Under 10x loupe: irregular internal surfaces that catch light and appear bright, wing-like, or… Fractures Fingerprint Inclusions Under 10x loupe: curved or wavy lines of tiny dots forming patterns that look… Clouds Pinpoint Clouds Under 10x loupe: concentrations of extremely tiny bright dots that individually are too small… Multiphase Two-Phase Inclusions Under 10x loupe: a transparent irregular cavity containing both a liquid phase and a…
Identification

Instruments used

Dichroscope Reveals pleochroism, instantly eliminates singly-refractive stones 10x Loupe Your most-used instrument, start every examination here Polariscope Determines single vs. double refraction, quick and conclusive Refractometer Measures refractive index, the backbone of gem identification UV Lamp, Long Wave and Short Wave Fluorescence exposes treatments, synthetics, and origin