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An Explorer's Dream: Where Are the World's Most Famous Spinels Hidden?
Spinel is a mineral of magnesium and aluminum with the chemical formula MgAl2O4. It is a major member of the spinel mineral family. The name spinel comes from the Latin word "spinella", which means a small thorn, describing its sharp crystal shape. This fascinating mineral has always attracted great interest from explorers and collectors because of its variety of colors and elegant appearance. In mines around the world, many famous spinels are quietly hiding, waiting to reveal their secrets.
Spinel typically comes in a variety of colors, from colorless to various reds, blues, greens, and other colors. For example, chromium (III) from Myanmar makes red spinel shine.
Basic properties of spinel
Spinel has a hardness of 8 and a specific gravity of 3.5 to 4.1. It can be transparent to opaque, and its luster ranges from glassy to matte. The crystal structure of spinel mainly appears in the form of octahedron and is often in the form of twins. Interestingly, this mineral has no true cleavage, but does have octahedral splitting and conchoidal fractures. Spinel can be colorless, but it often exhibits a variety of colors, derived from its different mineral components.
Geology and Geography
Spinel occurs geologically primarily as a metamorphic mineral, commonly found in metamorphic limestone and siliceous, ore-poor mudstone. It also occurs as the major mineral in rare basic igneous rocks whose melts are relatively poor in alkali metals. This property is why spinel and ruby are often found together.
The existence of spinel is closely related to the mantle. It is usually found in peridotite in the upper part of the earth, ranging from a depth of 20 km to 120 km.
Famous Spinel Treasures
There are many famous spinel treasures around the world. The most well-known ones include the Black Prince's Ruby and the Timur Ruby, which are in the British Crown Jewels, and the Côte de Bretagne, which is in the French Crown Jewels. . They all showcase the unique beauty and historical value of spinel. One of the most famous spinels is the Samarian Spinel, which weighs 500 carats and is the largest spinel known.
Where to source spinel worldwide
The geographical distribution of spinel is equally fascinating. Spinel can be found in gem deposits in Sri Lanka, Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and Mogok in Myanmar. Over time, high-quality spinel sources have emerged in the Lu Yen region of Vietnam, Mehen and Matobo in Tanzania, and Tsavo in Kenya. Especially after 2000, the evolution of technology from many parts of the world has given birth to some bright pink and blue spinels.
In 2018, bright blue spinel was also reported in southern Baffin Island, Canada. This blue color is due to the addition of a small amount of cobalt.
Applications of synthetic spinel
With the advancement of science and technology, synthetic spinel has also been widely used. Synthetic spinel can be created by the same methods as synthetic ruby, including the Verneuil method and the slag method pioneered by Edmond Frémy. Synthetic spinel has shown widespread use in aerospace and commercial applications due to its higher strength.
Closing Thoughts
The versatility and unique charm of spinel have not only attracted many collectors and jewelers, but also made it an important jewelry in history. Have you ever wondered how many unexplored stories and histories are hidden behind these shining treasures?
