Sharp angular growth zoning is often rare to see, but luckily visible in this spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Vietnam  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Dark Field
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: A-002-8507-1

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

Fine dislocation needles, as shown here, are a typical inclusion in Vietnamese spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Vietnam  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: R-002-7729-1

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

Prismatic crystals and irregular fingerprints decorate this Vietnamese spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Vietnam  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Dark Field
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: R-002-7728-2

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

Fine dislocation needles, as shown here, are a typical inclusion in Vietnamese spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Vietnam  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: R-002-7728-1

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

Stellate (star-like) dislocation needles like these commonly decorate Vietnamese spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Vietnam  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: A-002-6777-1

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

When viewed in crossed polars, these rounded apatite crystals display interference colors that make them look like a cluster of soap bubbles suspended in air.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Diffuse Light Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: A-002-7648-1

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

This rod-like crystal, cut through on the surface of a Burma spinel, displays vivid colors when viewed in crossed polars.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Dark Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: A-002-5828-1

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

When fissures in spinel heal, they often do so in a distinctive pattern of octahedral negative crystals which align in rows according to the underlying atomic symmetry, as show in this spinel from Tanzania’s Mahenge district.

Natural Spinel  •  Tanzania; Mahenge  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Dark Field
Photographer: Richard W. Hughes  •  Image Number: A-002-5946-1

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

A small octahedral crystal ensconced in a halo seems to float by in this untreated Burma spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Dark Field
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: A-002-5074-1

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

An epigenetically stained growth tube is stands out next to tiny dislocations in this Madagascar spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Madagascar  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Dark Field
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: A-002-4501-1

Schmetzer, K., Gübelin, E. et al. (2000) Oriented inclusions in spinels from Madagascar. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 229–232; RWHL.

Red planet. Like the surface of a distant world, a simple conchoidal fracture on a red spinel displays the infinite beauty of crystals.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: Fissure Filling with colorless Oil/resin (FF-O1); No indications of heating (No indications of heating)  •  Lighting Conditions: Light Field + Shadowing
Photographer: Richard W. Hughes  •  Image Number: A-002-4451-3

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

The same conchoidal fracture, with an adjustment to the shadowing illumination radically changes the appearance.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: Fissure Filling with colorless Oil/resin (FF-O1); No indications of heating (No indications of heating)  •  Lighting Conditions: Light Field + Shadowing
Photographer: Richard W. Hughes  •  Image Number: A-002-4451-2

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