spinel stone

The meaning of spinel stones. Black, blue, red, pink, green, white, yellow, purple, grey.

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The stone is a magnesium-aluminum member of a large group of minerals. It has the formula MgAl2O4 in the cubic crystal system. Its name comes from the Latin "back". Ruby Balas is also an old name for a pink variety.

Spinel properties

Stones crystallize in isometric system. Common crystal shapes are octahedrons, usually twinned. She has an imperfect octagonal neckline, as well as a crack in her shell. Its hardness is 8, specific gravity is from 3.5 to 4.1. While it is transparent to opaque with a glassy to matte sheen.

May be colorless. But there are usually different shades of pink, pink, red, blue, green, yellow, brown, black or purple. It has a unique natural white color. Now lost, which appeared briefly in today's Sri Lanka.

Transparent red stones were called balash rubies. In the past, before the advent of modern science, spinels and rubies were also called rubies. Since the XNUMXth century, we have only used the word ruby ​​for the red variety of the mineral corundum. And finally understood the difference between these two gems.

Sources of

It has long been found in gravel containing the gemstones of Sri Lanka. And also in the limestones of the province of Badakhshan in modern Afghanistan, Alko of Tajikistan and Mogok in Burma. Recently, gemstones can also be found in Luc Yen marble in Vietnam.

Mahenge and Matombo, Tanzania. Another tsavo in Kenya and on the Tunduru gravel in Tanzania. And also Ilacaca in Madagascar. Spinel is a metamorphic mineral. And also as an essential mineral in rare igneous rocks of basic composition. In these igneous rocks, magmas contain relatively little alkali compared to aluminum.

Alumina can be formed in the form of the mineral corundum. It can also combine with magnesia to form crystals. That's why we often met him with a ruby. Disputes continue about the petrogenesis of stones in basic igneous rocks. But this, of course, is due to the interaction of the main magma with a more developed magma or rock.

Spinel value

The following section is pseudo-scientific and based on cultural beliefs.

Excellent support for those recovering from injury or illness as it reduces fatigue and replenishes depleted energy reserves. It supports the body in detoxification and promotes elimination on both the physical and energetic levels.

Raw pink spinel from Mogok, Myanmar.

Red spinel in marble from Mogok, Myanmar

FAQ

Are Spinel Stones Valuable?

Available in a wide range of colors, incl. red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, gray and black. Celebrities are famous, but extremely rare. Some colors are more valuable, especially reds and hot pinks. The best gemstones ranging in size from 2 to 5 carats often sell for $3,000 to $5,000 per carat.

Is spinel a gem?

There are only 4 precious stones: diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. Hence, it is a semi-precious stone.

What mineral is spinel?

It is a mineral composed of magnesium-aluminum oxide (MgAl2O4) or any member of the group of rock-forming minerals, all of which are metal oxides with the general composition AB2O4, which can be magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, or nickel; B can be aluminum, chromium or iron; and O is oxygen.

How is spinel made?

Almost all gems were formed as a result of contact metamorphic activity associated with the intrusion of molten rock masses into unrefined limestones or dolomites. Stones of non-precious quality are found in some clay-rich primary igneous rocks, as well as in deposits formed as a result of the metamorphic transformation of these rocks.

What is the rarest spinel?

Blue is a very special gem because it is one of the few found in nature. As the overall popularity grows, the blue variety is beginning to catch the attention of savvy gem buyers.

How to recognize a false spinel?

The correct way to check if a stone is real is to place it under a UV light. Set it to a long wave and look for stones that are especially glowing. If the stones glow, then

it is synthetic, not natural.

What month is the spinel?

The gemstone is one of the best alternative birthstones. They are often mistaken for other gemstones as they usually resemble ruby ​​or sapphire. In fact, some of the most famous rubies in history have turned out to be spinel gemstones.

Natural spinel is sold in our gemstone shop

We make custom spinel jewelry such as wedding rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pendants… Please contact us for a quote.