Two solid crystals of unknown identity perch inside this red spinel from Myanmar’s Mogok Stone Tract.

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: Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer: Wimon Manorotkul  •  Image Number: A-003-2431-1

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

Perhaps the most classic of all spinel inclusions is a fingerprint made up of tiny octahedral negative crystals.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer: Wimon Manorotkul  •  Image Number: A-003-2430-3

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

An accretion cloud surrounds a small carbonate-lined negative crystal in this Burmese spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer: Wimon Manorotkul  •  Image Number: A-003-2430-2

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

An accretion cloud surrounds a small carbonate-lined negative crystal in this Burmese spinel.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer: Wimon Manorotkul  •  Image Number: A-003-2429-3

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

Crystals in spinel. Note the inclusions within the included crystal.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer: Wimon Manorotkul  •  Image Number: A-003-2429-2

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*.

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*.

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*.

This conchoidal fracture on the surface of a red spinel reveals the underlying atomic symmetry.

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-002-4451-1

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 transparent crystals, likely apatite, displays clear etch marks inside its spinel host.

Natural Spinel  •  Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya  •  Enhancements: None Detected (None)  •  Lighting Conditions: Dark Field + Shadowing
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes  •  Image Number: R-002-3542-3