Spinel Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

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.

Crystals in spinel. Note the inclusions within the included crystal.
This red spinel from Tanzania’s Mahenge mines showed an unusual orange coloration surrounding a fingerprint inclusion. But when examined in oblique fiber-optic lighting, the orange area displayed milky bluish clouds. This unmasked the orange color as a function of scattering, the same phenomena that creates a blue sky and orange sunset.
This red spinel from Tanzania’s Mahenge mines showed an unusual orange coloration surrounding a fingerprint inclusion. But when examined in oblique fiber-optic lighting, the orange area displayed milky bluish clouds. This unmasked the orange color as a function of scattering, the same phenomena that creates a blue sky and orange sunset.
Flat metallic crystal of unknown identity in spinel; FOV ~2 mm
Small black winged cube-like crystal in a Vietnamese spinel; FOV~1.5 mm
Like a piece of meat on a satay stick, an apatite crystal rod pierces a spinel crystal in spinel; FOV ~2 mm
Magnesite crystal (ID'd via Lotus Gemology’s Micro Raman) cut through in a cobalt spinel; FOV 2 mm
Irregular clouds of particles of unknown identity in spinel from Afghanistan; FOV ~6 mm
This Tanzanian spinel contained a variety of transparent, singularly refractive crystals. Currently, their identity is a mystery. FOV ~5 mm.
Small fingerprint in a gray spinel appears doubled as it reflects off the table facet.
Plane of small spinel octahedra with a strain pattern as viewed between crossed polars.
Dislocation needles are a typical feature in Vietnamese spinel like this one.

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.

Search the Complete Hyperion Database