Spinel Inclusions
Explore spinel inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural spinel, documented with information on geographic origin, treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.
This spinel before (left) and after (right) filler removal clearly demonstrates that fissure filling with an oil or resin can have a dramatic impact on the appearance of a gem. This is why it it critical that all gems with fissures be carefully checked for fillers.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Overhead
Photographer:
•
Image Number:
A-003-7249-1
Testing with micro Raman identified this irregular, elongated crystal as phlogopite mica.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7241-2
• Field of View = 2mm
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 2. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 830 pp.; RWHL*.
Hughes, E.B., Koivula, J.I., Manorotkul, W., Renfro, N. and Hughes, R.W. (2019) Spinel inclusions: An exercise in aesthetics. InColor, No. 43, pp. 48–55; RWHL*.
Fine exsolved particles and short “silk” needles are scattered across this spinel.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Shadowing
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7241-1
• Field of View = 2.5mm
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 2. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 830 pp.; RWHL*.
Hughes, E.B., Koivula, J.I., Manorotkul, W., Renfro, N. and Hughes, R.W. (2019) Spinel inclusions: An exercise in aesthetics. InColor, No. 43, pp. 48–55; RWHL*.
This pink spinel believed to be from Vietnam’s Luc Yen district contained many interesting solid inclusions. Two of them include this rod-like crystal on the right, which micro Raman revealed to be pargasite, and the large dolomite crystal to its left. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported occurrence of pargasite in spinel from this deposit. Bright green pargasite is a common guest mineral in the marbles from the Luc Yen area.
Natural Spinel •
Vietnam •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7191-2
• Field of View = 2.5mm
Hughes, E.B., Koivula, J.I., Manorotkul, W., Renfro, N. and Hughes, R.W. (2019) Spinel inclusions: An exercise in aesthetics. InColor, No. 43, pp. 48–55; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 2. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 830 pp.; RWHL*.
This pink spinel believed to be from Vietnam’s Luc Yen district contained many transparent doubly refractive crystal inclusions, some surrounded by stellate dislocations. Micro Raman revealed them to be phlogopite mica. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported occurrence of phlogopite in spinel from this deposit.
Natural Spinel •
Vietnam •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7191-1
• Field of View = 2mm
Hughes, E.B., Koivula, J.I., Manorotkul, W., Renfro, N. and Hughes, R.W. (2019) Spinel inclusions: An exercise in aesthetics. InColor, No. 43, pp. 48–55; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 2. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 830 pp.; RWHL*.
Two dolomite crystals trapped in spinel. Their identity was confirmed with micro Raman.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7009-1
• Field of View = 2mm
Hughes, E.B., Koivula, J.I., Manorotkul, W., Renfro, N. and Hughes, R.W. (2019) Spinel inclusions: An exercise in aesthetics. InColor, No. 43, pp. 48–55; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 2. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 830 pp.; RWHL*.
This small crystal in a cobalt blue spinel was examined by micro Raman and identified as calcite.
Natural Spinel •
Vietnam •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-6554-1
• Field of View = 1.2mm
Hughes, E.B., Koivula, J.I., Manorotkul, W., Renfro, N. and Hughes, R.W. (2019) Spinel inclusions: An exercise in aesthetics. InColor, No. 43, pp. 48–55; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 2. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 830 pp.; RWHL*.
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Spinel inclusions may include mineral crystals, healed fissures, fluid inclusions, negative crystals, growth features and other internal features formed during or after crystal growth. Such features are important to gemologists because they can provide evidence useful in identifying spinel, understanding its geological history, recognizing treatment and, in some cases, determining geographic origin.
Spinel Inclusion Photomicrographs
The Hyperion spinel gallery includes microscopic features found in spinels from major deposits around the world. Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.
What Inclusions Can Reveal About Spinel
Inclusions are an important part of spinel identification. Their form, composition and alteration can help gemologists distinguish natural spinel from synthetic material, recognize evidence of treatment, and study the geological environment in which the spinel formed.
Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from known spinel deposits.
About Hyperion
Hyperion is the Lotus Gemology searchable inclusion database. It allows users to browse gemstone inclusions by gem type, geographic origin, treatment and keyword.
