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.

Stellate dislocations (the star-like- needles) radiating from small crystals are a typical feature seen in Vietnamese spinel. By using micro Raman we were able to analyze the center crystals and identify them as zircon.
Several small metallic crystals, some of which are hexagonal, stood out in this spinel. Micro Raman identified them as graphite.
Dislocation needles are a common inclusion in Vietnamese spinel.
This pink spinel believed to be from Vietnam’s Luc Yen district contained many interesting solid inclusions. Two of them include this rod-like crystal on the right, which micro Raman revealed to be pargasite, and the large dolomite crystal to its left. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported occurrence of pargasite in spinel from this deposit. Bright green pargasite is a common guest mineral in the marbles from the Luc Yen area.
This pink spinel believed to be from Vietnam’s Luc Yen district contained many transparent doubly refractive crystal inclusions, some surrounded by stellate dislocations. Micro Raman revealed them to be phlogopite mica. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported occurrence of phlogopite in spinel from this deposit.
This small crystal in a cobalt blue spinel was examined by micro Raman and identified as calcite.
This healed fissure in a cobalt-bearing color-change spinel shows tiny negative crystals in the plane of the former fissure.
When we saw the criss-crossing twin planes in this crystal inclusion inside a spinel, we thought that it is likely a calcite crystal. This suspicion was confirmed with raman microscopy.
Small black winged cube-like crystal in a Vietnamese spinel; FOV~1.5 mm
Small fingerprint in a gray spinel appears doubled as it reflects off the table facet.
Dislocation needles are a typical feature in Vietnamese spinel like this one.
Sharp angular growth zoning is often rare to see, but luckily visible in this spinel.

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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