Available in many colors, spinels are becoming more popular with consumers. Learn how spinels form and how these gemstones get their colors.
5 Minute Read
The term “spinel” actually describes a large group of related magnesium aluminum oxide mineral species. They’re all isometric aluminum oxides with magnesium, iron, zinc, and traces of other elements. However, the gemstones we typically call spinels form just a subset of this larger group.
Spinels are frequently used to simulate other more well-known or expensive gemstones, especially in birthstone jewelry. Today, many consumers are unfamiliar with spinel as a gemstone in its own right, but that’s slowly changing.
Spinels occur most commonly in magnesium-rich limestone deposits that have been subjected to contact, and sometimes regional, metamorphism. Powerful metamorphic forces convert soft limestone into harder dolomite marble. This causes the available aluminum, oxygen, and magnesium to crystallize into spinel.
Some spinel is mined directly from the primary rock where it formed. However, many secondary alluvial deposits house large quantities
…
When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.
The term “spinel” actually describes a large group of related magnesium aluminum oxide mineral species. They’re all isometric aluminum oxides with magnesium, iron, zinc, and traces of other elements. However, the gemstones we typically call spinels form just a subset of this larger group.
Spinels are frequently used to simulate other more well-known or expensive gemstones, especially in birthstone jewelry. Today, many consumers are unfamiliar with spinel as a gemstone in its own right, but that’s slowly changing.
…Spinels occur most commonly in magnesium-rich limestone deposits that have been subjected to contact, and sometimes regional, metamorphism. Powerful metamorphic forces convert soft limestone into harder dolomite marble. This causes the available aluminum, oxygen, and magnesium to crystallize into spinel.
Some spinel is mined directly from the primary rock where it formed. However, many secondary alluvial deposits house large quantities
Available in many colors, spinels are becoming more popular with consumers. Learn how spinels form and how these gemstones get their colors.
“I have never known or heard of an organization that offers so much for its members, and at such a low cost.”
— Ernest Roisch, Rainbow Rocks LTD
That's less than $0.01 per article. Get instant access to 1,700+ premium articles, courses, and gem pricing data.
