Afghanistan Spinel Inclusions
Explore Afghanistan 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.
A euhedral prismatic crystal, likely apatite, stands out in its spinel host.
Natural Spinel •
Afghanistan •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-7204-1
• Field of View = 3.5mm
A cluster of tiny graphite (ID’d with micro Raman) flakes can be seen when we peek through the girdle of this spinel. They may appear black in darkfield illumination, but when hit with the beam of our fiber optic light they display a metallic luster.
Natural Spinel •
Afghanistan •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-7774-1
• Field of View = 1.5mm
When we saw several metallic crystals in the interior of this spinel we became curious as to their identity. Micro Raman analysis revealed that they are graphite.
Natural Spinel •
Afghanistan •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-5095-3
• Field of View = 2.5mm
These crystals, cut through on the surface of their spinel host, were identified with micro Raman as magnesite.
Natural Spinel •
Afghanistan •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Overhead Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-5095-2
• Field of View = 2.8mm
These crystals, cut through on the surface of their spinel host, were identified with micro Raman as magnesite.
Natural Spinel •
Afghanistan •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-5095-1
• Field of View = 2.8mm
Irregular clouds of particles of unknown identity in spinel from Afghanistan; FOV ~6 mm
Natural Spinel •
Afghanistan •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-2520-1
Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan origin.
Afghanistan Spinel Inclusion Photomicrographs
The Hyperion Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan origin.
Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from Afghanistan 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.
