Gemstone profile and identification guide
Durability is part of the appeal of Spinel, not merely a technical footnote. That combination of blue body colour, 9 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre is what usually makes it recognisable in practice. The secondary pink note often matters more than people expect when separating it from lookalikes.
Durability is part of the appeal of Spinel, not merely a technical footnote. That combination of blue body colour, 9 Mohs hardness, and vitreous lustre is what usually makes it recognisable in practice. The secondary pink note often matters more than people expect when separating it from lookalikes.
Did you know? Spinel is commonly associated with material from Sri Lanka, though the broader trade may draw on multiple localities.
Use this profile as a collector reference and educational guide for quick on-page comparison, then validate with the interactive identification system.
Name: Spinel
Scientific classification: Oxide (Spinel Group)
Hardness: 8 Mohs
Transparency: transparent
Lustre: vitreous
Crystal system: Isometric (Cubic)
Primary colour: Blue
Secondary colour: Pink
Colour family: Blues & Cyans
A practical identification pass begins with the visible basics: transparent transparency, vitreous lustre, 9 Mohs hardness, and a trigonal crystal system. The interaction between blue and pink tones is more useful than the primary colour alone when comparing candidates. Useful side-by-side comparisons include Sapphire, Ruby, Pink Sapphire.
Status: verified-core-fields
Reference priority: GIA, Gem-A, Mindat, International Gem Society
Core identity fields reviewed against consensus gemological references (GIA/Gem-A/Mindat/IGS).
Some market- and locality-level details may still require citation-grade source notes for publication workflows.
Hardness category: very hard
Hardness value: 8 Mohs
Chemical composition: Magnesium aluminum oxide (MgAl2O4)
Crystal system: Isometric (Cubic)
Common locations: Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania (Mahenge), Vietnam, Tajikistan
Learn more: Gem-A gemstone education resources.
Spinel sits in the blues & cyans grouping here, usually reading first as blue with pink appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
Optical effects: Colour Change (rare)
Mineral species: Spinel
Mineral group: Spinel group
Chemical formula: Magnesium aluminum oxide (MgAl2O4)
Mohs hardness: 8
Crystal system: Isometric (Cubic)
Lustre: vitreous
Transparency: transparent
Streak: White
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
Specific gravity: 3.58-3.63
Refractive index: 1.718
Optical phenomena: Colour Change (rare)
Colour range: Blue, Pink
Common inclusions: Octahedral crystals, healed fissures, and fingerprint inclusions
Geological environment: Spinel occurs in Metamorphic marbles and alluvial deposits derived from metamorphic and igneous sources. Its Isometric (Cubic) structure reflects the pressure-temperature conditions of those host rocks, with notable occurrences in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania (Mahenge), Vietnam, Tajikistan.
Principal mining regions: Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania (Mahenge), Vietnam, Tajikistan
Important commercial sources: Key gem spinel sources include Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Vietnam
Historical significance: Spinel has a long gem history and was historically confused with ruby in crown jewels.
Common treatments: Generally untreated, though occasional heating may be reported in specific lots.
Synthetic or imitation forms: Flame-fusion synthetic spinel and glass imitations are common.
Common look-alikes: sapphire, ruby, pink sapphire
Jewellery uses: Spinel is used chiefly for A strong candidate for rings and other high-contact jewellery when overall cut quality is sound.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 8 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Care recommendations: Spinel should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 8 in the Isometric (Cubic) system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Store separately from harder gems to minimise abrasion and edge wear.
Cross-check profile data with GIA Gem Encyclopedia and Mindat entry for Spinel.
Spinel is a Spinel material with chemistry Magnesium aluminum oxide (MgAl2O4). It develops in Metamorphic marbles and alluvial deposits derived from metamorphic and igneous sources, and economically significant production is associated with Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania (Mahenge), Vietnam, Tajikistan.
Key gem spinel sources include Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Vietnam
Best for: Spinel is used chiefly for A strong candidate for rings and other high-contact jewellery when overall cut quality is sound.. In the trade it is commonly fashioned as faceted stones, calibrated cuts, and higher-clarity collector pieces, with Mohs hardness 8 guiding suitable jewellery applications.
Ideal uses: A strong candidate for rings and other high-contact jewellery when overall cut quality is sound.
Spinel should be cleaned with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. At Mohs 8 in the Isometric (Cubic) system, avoid steam cleaners, harsh chemicals, and high-impact wear. Store separately from harder gems to minimise abrasion and edge wear.
Need another candidate? Use advanced gemstone search or return to the identification guide.
Compare hardness (8 Mohs), crystal system (Isometric (Cubic)), colour profile, and lustre (vitreous) with your sample. Then cross-check related gemstones listed above.
Spinel sits in the blues & cyans grouping here, usually reading first as blue with pink appearing as a secondary note or modifier.
A strong candidate for rings and other high-contact jewellery when overall cut quality is sound.. For maintenance, follow the care guidance in this profile.
GIA: general gemstone identity (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
Gem-A: gemological education and terminology (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
Mindat: mineral species and locality index (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
International Gem Society: collector-facing gem reference (reviewed) - Reviewed as a direct core gemstone profile.
