Vietnamese Spinel Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Vietnamese Spinel Inclusions

Explore Vietnamese 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.

Stellar spinel. Bands of dislocation needles radiate around a dolomite crystal (identified with micro Raman) to create a stellate pattern in this spinel.
A cluster of unidentified crystals in a Vietnamese spinel.
Parallel bands of fine dislocation needles decorate the interior of this spinel. Vietnamese spinels often contain these types of inclusions.
Fine dislocation needles, as pictured here, are frequently seen in spinels from Vietnam.
A series of dislocation needles can be observed when this pink spinel is lit with fiber optic illumination. Inclusions like these are typical for Vietnamese spinel.
Under magnification, bands of dislocations can be observed in this blue spinel. These features are often observed in spinels from Vietnam.
I believe I can fly. A dolomite crystal (identified with micro Raman) appears to take flight as it is flanked by dislocation needle “wings.”
Streams of fine particles form delicate waves in this spinel. Note that the streams are made of tiny dislocation needles.
Star-like accretion halos give the interior of this spinel a galactic appearance.
This blue spinel displayed a striking green fluorescence when illuminated with longwave ultraviolet light.
A small black crystal, likely uraninite, displays a strain pattern in crossed polars.
The bright crystal displaying interference colors when viewed between crossed polars was identified with micro Raman as pargasite. Above the pargasite crystal we can also see a crystal showing a strain patter. This dark crystal is likely a uraninite.

Vietnamese 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 Vietnamese origin.

Vietnamese Spinel Inclusion Photomicrographs

The Hyperion Vietnamese 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 Vietnamese 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 Vietnamese origin.

Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from Vietnamese 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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