Burmese Spinel Inclusions
Explore Burmese spinel inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural spinels from Myanmar (Burma), documented with information on treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.
Apatite crystal with an embedded graphite platelet. Gemologists often refer to this apatite/graphite combination as a “belly button” apatite. These are common in spinels from Burma.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffused Light
Photographer:
Kaylan Khourie •
Image Number:
A-004-8668-1
• Field of View = 4.5mm
Gübelin, E.J. (1973) Internal World of Gemstones. Zürich: ABC Verlag, reprinted 1983, 234 pp.
Numerous rounded crystals were suspended in this spinel. Analysis with micro Raman determined that they are apatite crystals with a black graphite platelet in the center.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-4762-2
• Field of View = 2.5mm
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 bright, glassy discoid depicted here provides evidence that its spinel host was heated. Raman spectroscopy confirmed this suspicion.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-0696-1
• Field of View = 3mm
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*.
This spinel contained many wispy trails of fine particles, concentrated near the surfaces of the stone.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7557-1
• Field of View = 5mm
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*.
Testing with micro Raman identified this irregular, elongated crystal as phlogopite mica.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7241-2
• Field of View = 2mm
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*.
Fine exsolved particles and short “silk” needles are scattered across this spinel.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Shadowing
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7241-1
• Field of View = 2.5mm
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*.
In this spinel from Myanmar’s Mogok Stone Tract, we found these crystals cut through on the surface. They were shown to be fluorophlogopite mica by micro Raman. This is only the second time we have found this in spinel.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7402-1
• Field of View = 2mm
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*.
Two dolomite crystals trapped in spinel. Their identity was confirmed with micro Raman.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7009-1
• Field of View = 2mm
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 large mineral inclusion, identified with microraman as dolomite, stands out from its spinel host. Specimen courtesy Tristan Knowles.
Natural Spinel •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-4182-1
• Field of View = 6mm
The strain pattern around this crystal in a spinel is evidence when observed between 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-003-4649-1
• Field of View = 4mm
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.
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Burmese 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 and evaluating a possible Burmese origin.
Burmese Spinel Inclusion Photomicrographs
The Hyperion Burmese spinel gallery includes microscopic features documented in spinels from Myanmar (Burma). Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.
What Inclusions Can Reveal About Burmese Spinel
Inclusions are an important part of geographic origin determination in spinel. Their form, composition and associations can provide evidence that, when considered together with other gemological properties, may support or contradict a Burmese origin.
Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from Burmese spinels.
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.
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