Sulfur-rich fluid inclusions in a natural pink spinel from Pein Pyit, Mogok, Burma. These proved to be an orange liquid when polished down.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Diffuse Light Field (Transmitted Light)
Photographer: Richard W. Hughes  •  Image Number: R-001-2676-1

Pardieu, V. (2014) Hunting for "Jedi" spinels in Mogok. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 50, No. 1, Spring, pp. 46–57; RWHL.

A large winged spinel octahedron hovering within a red spinel from Pyaung Gaung, in Burma’s Mogok Stone Tract.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Light Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer: Richard W. Hughes  •  Image Number: R-001-2637-1

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

Pink spinel from Kyauk Sin, Mogok, Burma, containing what looks like a calcite inclusion with twinning and unusual disc inclusion in the calcite visible between crossed polars.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Diffuse Light Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer: Richard W. Hughes  •  Image Number: R-001-2636-1

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

Unusual star-like radiating fibers in this natural red spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer: Wimon Manorotkul  •  Image Number: R-001-2628-2

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

Unusual star-like radiating fibers in this natural red spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer: Wimon Manorotkul  •  Image Number: R-001-2628-1

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

Like a coral garden, growth tubes reach for sunlight in this blue spinel from Madagascar.

Natural Spinel  •  Madagascar  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer: Richard W. Hughes  •  Image Number: A-001-2311-1

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

Swirls of exsolved particles light up the interior of this red spinel from Tanzania’s Mahenge region.

Natural Spinel  •  Tanzania; Mahenge  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer: Richard W. Hughes  •  Image Number: A-001-2288-1

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

Saeseaw, S., Wang, W. et al. (2009) Distinguishing Heated Spinels from Unheated Natural Spinels and from Synthetic Spinels. Gemological Institute of America, 13 pp.; RWHL.

Negative crystal with triangular healing pattern.

Natural Spinel  •  Vietnam  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: A-001-2117-1

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

Included apatite crystal with comet tail. Such “tails” indicate the direction of growth was towards the tail (away from the crystal). Such tails are actually microscope negative crystals.

Natural Spinel  •  Sri Lanka (Ceylon)  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer: Richard W. Hughes  •  Image Number: A-001-1972-1

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) dislocations decorate the interior of this violet spinel from Vietnam’s Luc Yen district. These may sometimes alter to högbomite.

Natural Spinel  •  Vietnam  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer: Wimon Manorotkul  •  Image Number: A-010-0141-2

Hughes, E.B., Koivua, J.I., Manorotkul, W., Renfro, N. and Hughes, R.W. (2019) Spinel inclusions: An exercise in aesthetics. InColor, No. 43, pp. 66–73; RWHL*.

Chauviré, B., Rondeau, B. et al. (2015) Blue spinel from the Luc Yen district of Vietnam. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 51, No. 1, Spring, pp. 2–17; RWHL.

Stellate (star-like) dislocations decorate the interior of this violet spinel from Vietnam’s Luc Yen district. These may sometimes alter to högbomite.

Natural Spinel  •  Vietnam  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer: Wimon Manorotkul  •  Image Number: A-010-0141-1

Hughes, E.B., Koivua, J.I., Manorotkul, W., Renfro, N. and Hughes, R.W. (2019) Spinel inclusions: An exercise in aesthetics. InColor, No. 43, pp. 66–73; RWHL*.

Chauviré, B., Rondeau, B. et al. (2015) Blue spinel from the Luc Yen district of Vietnam. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 51, No. 1, Spring, pp. 2–17; RWHL.

A polysynthetically twinned calcite crystal is captured within a Burmese red spinel. The twin planes stand out in strong relief when viewed between crossed polars.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Diffuse Light Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer: Richard W. Hughes  •  Image Number: A-001-1971-1

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