Guide
Spinel specimens for sale
76 for sale · $14–$32,000 USD
415 in the gallery
Spinel is a mineral species with the formula MgAl2O4. It forms in isometric, octahedral crystals and can display a glassy to adamantine luster. Colors range from deep red to pink, orange, blue, and even black, with color caused by trace elements such as chromium and iron. The mineral often occurs in metamorphic and ultramafic settings and is commonly found in corundum-bearing rocks, chromian-rich spinel lodes, and skarns.
- Formula
- MgAl2O4
- Rarity
- Common
- Stability
- Stable
- Collector interest
- Moderate Interest
- Classification notes
- Oxides; spinel group (cubic)
Key characteristics
- Crystal system
- isometric
- Mohs hardness
- 7.5–8
- Specific gravity
- 3.58–3.61
- Luster
- vitreous
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent, opaque
- Color
- colorless, white, gray, black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, pink
- Streak
- white
- Cleavage
- none
- Fracture
- conchoidal, uneven
- Crystal habit
- octahedral, dodecahedral, granular, massive
- Gem mineral
- Fluorescent: red, orange
- Classic / historic
Buy Spinel specimens
View all 76Where Spinel is found
Top localities
- Mahenge68 specimens
- Chino Mine43 specimens
- Pein-Pyit39 specimens
- Mogok39 specimens
- Fletcher Mine19 specimens
- Mogok Valley15 specimens
- Naica5 specimens
- Ray Mine4 specimens
- Mogok Township4 specimens
- Ratnapura4 specimens
Guides
All guides
Guide
Spinel from Mogok Valley, Myanmar
Spinel from Mogok Valley, Myanmar - glassy octahedra in pink to red hues set in marble, famed for Star of David twins, fluorescence, and top collector appeal.Read guide
Guide
Spinel from Mahenge, Tanzania
Spinel from Mahenge, Tanzania — neon pink-red, marble-hosted crystals with sharp octahedra and gemmy zones, prized for color, form, and locality.Read guide
Guide
Spinel from Luc Yen Mine, Vietnam
Luc Yen spinel, Vietnam — marble-hosted red to cobalt-blue crystals; paragenesis with calcite and clinohumite, making this locality prized by collectors.Read guideAbout Spinel
Prominent specimens have come from Myanmar (notably Mogok) and Tanzania, with other notable occurrences in Vietnam, the USA, and Mexico. Collectors prize well-formed crystals and clean, gem-grade material that can polish to a bright surface and exhibit strong color zoning or vivid single-color hues. Spinel’s historical confusion with rubies and sapphires adds to its allure, and high-quality crystals can form attractive clusters suitable for display or study.
