Spinel
What is Spinel?
Spinel is a mineral that comes in a variety of colors, including red, blue, and green. It’s primarily found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Spinel is often used as a gemstone and is popular for its vibrant colors and its use in royal jewelry.
Spinel is a colorful gemstone that comes in shades of red, blue, and green. Its vibrant hues and historical significance in royal jewelry make it a popular choice for rings, pendants, and other ornamental uses.
| Chemical Classification | Inorganic - Oxide (Spinel group) |
| Color | Comes in a variety of colors including red, blue, pink, black, and violet among others. |
| Streak | White |
| Luster | Vitreous. |
| Transparency | Typically transparent, but some varieties can be opaque. |
| Occurrence | Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, and Tajikistan. |
| Formation | Spinel is found in marble and is also associated with some igneous rocks. |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Cleavage | None |
| Mohs Hardness | 8 |
| Specific Gravity | Approximately 3.58 - 3.61. |
| Diagnostic Properties | Various colors, octahedral crystals. |
| Chemical Composition | MgAl2O4 |
| Pleochroism | Typically not observable in Spinel. |
| Crystal System | Isometric/Cubic |
| Optical Properties | Isotropic |
| Refractive Index | 1.712 - 1.736 |
| Birefringence | None (isotropic) |
| 2V angle | Not applicable (isometric) |
| Dispersion | 0.020. |