Spinel Meaning
Spinel is a gemstone which is available in a variety of colours. Pure Spinel stone is colourless, but impurities owe to the wide range of colours. The most valuable and preferable Spinel colour is a deep blood red, though blue spinel, black spinel, orange, yellow, pink, and purple colours also make fine gemstones. Spinel is commonly fluorescent in ultraviolet light, and this can be quite useful in its identification.
Spinel gem has a very limited supply, and thus gem and jewellery corporations don't really market this gemstone to the consumer.
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Factual Information About Spinel Stones
Black Spinel
Black spinel is actually the black variety, opaque known as Pleonast, contains a good luster and is used as a black gemstone.
Blue Spinel Meaning
Blue Spinel may have a resemblance to Zircon, sapphire and Topaz; while pink Spinel may imitate Morganite, pink Topaz, and pink Tourmaline. Purple Spinel stone may seem similar to Amethyst, though Spinel is generally bluer in tone than Amethyst.
Uses of Spinel Stone
The deep-red variety, often popularized as a Ruby Spinel, is the most prized form and is actually an excellent alternative for Ruby. Spinel is also a significant pink gemstone.
Spinel naturally takes place in octahedral crystals. In well-carved red crystals, gem cutters may even out a crystal into an ideal octahedron. These "crystals" can occasionally be worn as a jewellery piece without any further faceting.
Though spinel has been used in jewellery since primitive times, this gemstone has gained the attention it deserves. Until the onset of modern gemology in the early 20th centuries, spinel was often determined as corundum, since they are found in the same mines. Nonetheless, these minerals are chemically isolated.
Following which, as jewellery cartels have had an understanding that some of their treasured rubies and sapphires were actually spinels, the stone’s reputation suffered significantly. Synthetic spinel is common and inexpensive. It has commonly been used as a stimulant for other gems in birthstones and class rings, which has impacted its public perception.
Natural spinel, however, is a rare and beautiful gem and is deeply appreciated on its natural beauty by educated consumers.
Varieties of Spinel
Spinel is Synthesized in Different Varieties and is Thus Known in Different Names as Below:-
Sources of Spinel Stones
Found mainly and traditionally in Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, spinels have been unearthed recently in different sites in Australia, Africa, Russia, and Vietnam. These gems are generally not mined from the hard rock fundamental deposits in which they form but rather from alluvial or placer deposits where weathered material has been washed downstream.
Care of Spinel Stones
Spinels are relatively hard and durable gemstones and thus need no special cleaning or care instructions. One can refer to the Gemstone Jewellery Care and Cleaning Guide for various cleaning systems.
Trade Names of Spinel
In prehistoric times, red spinels were referred to as “balas rubies,” possibly after Balascia, the primitive name of a region now partitioned between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. This was a significant source of these gems.
Although spinels were determined as sapphires and rubies centuries ago, they are now recognized as distinct gemstones. Nowadays, Any references made to “spinel ruby” or “spinel sapphire” are erroneous. Red or green garnets are sometimes called “Arizona spinels.” Almandines are wrongly called “candy spinels.”
Fun Facts
Spinel is most popular for its deep red variety that nearly simulates Ruby.
Spinel stone and ruby can be very difficult to distinguish as they not only look identical but are found in the same localities too.
Fine red Spinel is rarer than Ruby of equal colour.
Spinel stone cost is still undervalued, with its cost about 30% lower than comparable Ruby.
The scarcity of good Spinel stone is a major factor for its lack of popularity and demand. This further hampers Spinel from being a mainstream gemstone.
Spinel is easily synthesized, thus can be created in any colour by adding impurities.
Synthetic Spinel often imitates many other gemstones such as Diamond, Zircon and Sapphire.
The enormous "Ruby" that creates the centerpiece of the royal crown of England (the Black Prince's Ruby) was actually identified to be a Spinel.
Note: Because of the plenty of synthetic Spinels, one must always be careful to only buy this gemstone from trusted sellers/jewellers. Remember that, almost all colourless Spinel gemstones are synthetic, as they rarely materialize colourless in nature.
FAQs on Spinel
1. What is spinel and why is it classified as a mineral?
Spinel is a magnesium aluminium oxide mineral (MgAl₂O₄) that is highly regarded as a durable gemstone. It is classified as a mineral because it is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a specific, ordered crystalline structure. With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, it is suitable for all types of jewellery.
2. What is the basic crystal structure of spinel from a geographical and chemical perspective?
From a chemical perspective, spinel has a general formula of AB₂O₄ and belongs to the cubic crystal system. Geographically, this structure is significant because it is very stable, allowing spinel to form in high-temperature and high-pressure environments, such as during the metamorphism of limestone. This structure is so fundamental that it gives its name to the 'spinel group' of minerals, which share a similar atomic arrangement.
3. What are the common colours of spinel and what causes these variations?
Spinel occurs in a wide variety of colours. The colour variations are caused by trace amounts of different chemical elements within the crystal. Key examples include:
- Red and Pink: Caused by the presence of chromium (Cr).
- Blue: Caused by trace amounts of iron (Fe), and in the most prized varieties, cobalt (Co).
- Purple and Mauve: A result of a mix of iron and chromium.
- Black: Caused by high concentrations of iron.
4. In which geographical regions is gem-quality spinel typically found?
Gem-quality spinel is found in several key locations around the world, often in deposits of metamorphic rocks like marble or in alluvial gravels. The most famous sources include:
- Myanmar (Burma): Particularly the Mogok Stone Tract, known for its vibrant red and pink spinels.
- Tajikistan: The Kuh-i-Lal mines have been a source of large spinels for centuries.
- Sri Lanka (Ceylon): Produces a wide range of colours from its gem-bearing gravels.
- Tanzania and Vietnam: Newer sources for high-quality red, pink, and blue spinels.
5. How can spinel be distinguished from similar-looking gemstones like ruby?
While red spinel and ruby can look very similar, they have distinct physical properties that allow for identification. The primary difference is in their optical properties: spinel is singly refractive, meaning light passes through it in one direction, while ruby is doubly refractive. This can be detected with a polariscope. Additionally, spinel often forms in perfect octahedral (eight-sided) crystals, which is another identifying characteristic for geologists and gemologists.
6. Why was spinel historically mistaken for more famous gemstones?
Spinel was historically mistaken for gems like ruby and sapphire because, before the development of modern chemistry and gemology in the late 18th century, gemstones were primarily identified by their colour. A deep red stone was classified as a ruby. Many famous historical 'rubies' in crown jewels, such as the 'Black Prince's Ruby' in the British Imperial State Crown, were later identified as large red spinels. This earned spinel the nickname 'the great impostor'.
7. What geological processes lead to the formation of spinel?
Spinel typically forms through a process called contact metamorphism. This occurs when hot magma intrudes into existing rock layers, particularly limestone or dolomite (carbonate rocks rich in magnesium). The intense heat and pressure from the magma 'cook' the surrounding rock, causing the elements within it—magnesium, aluminium, and oxygen—to reorganise and crystallise into spinel. This is why spinel is often found in marbles, which are metamorphosed limestones.
8. What factors determine the value of a spinel gemstone?
The value of a spinel is determined by the same factors as most gems: colour, clarity, cut, and carat weight. However, for spinel, colour is the most critical factor. The most valuable varieties are the vibrant, ruby-like reds and the rare, vivid cobalt blues. Unlike many other gemstones, spinels are almost never treated or heated to enhance their colour, so their natural beauty makes them highly prized by collectors and connoisseurs, significantly increasing their value.
