Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Mogok, Burma
SIZE : 5 x 5 x 3 mm (crystal downwards on the rigth)

These four isolated crystals are spinels. In fact, there are many twinned crystals. They are pink red ans transparent. These samples have small dimensions: 5 x 5 x 3 mm for the tallest (crystal downwards on the right), but they are of great quality.

These crystals come from Mogok in Burma. They have been acquired thanks to support from Total. It is kept in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Spinel

HISTORY : Name probably derived from Latin "spinella" meaning "thorn", ine reference to its crystals lines

Species would have been described when discovered in 1546 by Georgius Agricola (1494-1555). In 1779, Demestre made a complete description

Type-locality : unknown
ANCIENT NAME : Rubis balai, rubis spinelle, rubicelle, spinel

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Mg Al2O4
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Cubic
COLOR : Colourless, brown, black, pink, red
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to almost opaque
LUSTER : Vitreous, bright, dull
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Octahedral crystals, seldomly cubic
HARDNESS : 7,5-8,0
DENSITY : 3,578

CHEMICAL CLASS : IV - Oxydes, hydroxydes
GROUP : Spinelle
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 4/B.01-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 4.BB.05

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Spinel

Spinel

MNHN N°205.147

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