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Stellate dislocations criss-cross the interior of this cobalt blue spinel.

Natural Spinel • Vietnam • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-8193-2 • Field of View = 1.5 mm • Date Posted: 15 January 2021

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*.

A small crystal is surrounded by fine dislocation needles in this spinel. This type of feature is common in spinel from Vietnam.

Natural Spinel • Vietnam • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-8972-1 • Field of View = 3 mm • Date Posted: 25 March 2021

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*.

The particles inside this spinel are oriented in hexagonal patterns, creating distinct geometric shapes.

Natural Spinel • Sri Lanka (Ceylon) • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-8147-1 • Field of View = 3 mm • Date Posted: 06 January 2021

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*.

Micro raman identified this crystal as apatite. Apatite is a common inclusion in spinels from Vietnam, like this one, as well as spinels from many other origins.

Natural Spinel • Vietnam • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-8923-2 • Field of View = 2 mm • Date Posted: 17 March 2021

Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 2. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 830 pp.; RWHL*.

A cluster of fine dislocation needles can be spotted above the apatite crystal (identified with micro Raman) in this spinel from Vietnam.

Natural Spinel • Vietnam • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-8923-1 • Field of View = 3 mm • Date Posted: 17 March 2021

Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 2. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 830 pp.; RWHL*.

A euhedral octahedral crystal in this cobalt spinel is a reflection of spinel’s crystal structure.

Natural Spinel • Sri Lanka (Ceylon) • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-7815-1 • Field of View = 2 mm • Date Posted: 09 December 2020

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*.

A cluster of tiny graphite (ID’d with micro Raman) flakes can be seen when we peek through the girdle of this spinel. They may appear black in darkfield illumination, but when hit with the beam of our fiber optic light they display a metallic luster.

Natural Spinel • Afghanistan • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-7774-1 • Field of View = 1.5 mm • Date Posted: 01 December 2020

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*.

A cluster of needles forms an octahedral cloud around a tiny crystal in this spinel. As seen here, inclusions often echo the symmetry of the host crystal.

Natural Spinel • Vietnam • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field + Shadowing
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-7770-3 • Field of View = 1.7 mm • Date Posted: 03 December 2020

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*.

A clinochlore crystal in a spinel host displays a rainbow of interference colors when observed between crossed polars. When the polarizing plates are rotated the interference colors change.

Natural Spinel • Vietnam • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Light Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-7770-2 • Field of View = 3 mm • Date Posted: 03 December 2020

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*.

A clinochlore crystal in a spinel host displays a rainbow of interference colors when observed between crossed polars. When the polarizing plates are rotated the interference colors change.

Natural Spinel • Vietnam • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Light Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-7770-1 • Field of View = 3 mm • Date Posted: 03 December 2020

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*.

Stellate dislocations (the star-like- needles) radiating from small crystals are a typical feature seen in Vietnamese spinel. By using micro Raman we were able to analyze the center crystals and identify them as zircon.

Natural Spinel • Vietnam • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-7771-1 • Field of View = 4 mm • Date Posted: 01 December 2020

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*.

Several unusual clusters of small needles and platelets were scattered throughout this blue spinel.

Natural Spinel • Not Determinable • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes • Image Number: A-003-7650-1 • Field of View = 1.5 mm • Date Posted: 16 November 2020

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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