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UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes
Natural inorganic gem materials · Mineral species · Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Spinel
Also known asBlack Spinel · Gahnospinel · Pleonaste
The gem mineral species MgAl2O4 in the spinel group; its GB/T basic name is "spinel", and it must not be confused with Synthetic Spinel or other minerals in the group. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.
Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.
Questions people ask about Spinel
Every sentence below is followed by the registered fact it rests on; answers add no new facts and promise no outcome.
Q1How can you tell natural spinel from synthetic spinel?
Synthetic spinel is commercially available.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022Appearance alone does not show that a spinel is natural or rule out synthesis and treatment; laboratories rely on major- and trace-element chemistry measured by methods such as LA-ICP-MS.G&G Spring 2019 · G&G Fall 1994Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.What this page can answer
Q2What gives spinel its many colours?
Several colour-causing elements mix in different proportions: vivid blue usually comes from cobalt, red from chromium and orange from vanadium.G&G Fall 2021 · G&G Fall 2022Purple stones are usually coloured by iron, or by chromium and vanadium with some iron.G&G Fall 2021CIBJO lists its colours as pink to red, orange, blue, blue-green, violet, purple and black.CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Q3Is spinel durable enough for an engagement ring?
At Mohs 8 with good toughness, spinel is a durable jewellery gem.GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)In settings, prong and bezel are rated relatively safe, channel calls for caution, flush for extreme caution and pavé is best avoided, because it may be brittle.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
Q4How do you clean spinel?
Warm soapy water is always safe; ultrasonic and steam cleaning are usually fine, though inclusions such as fractures could be a problem.GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)The rare fracture-filled stone should be cleaned only with warm soapy water or a damp cloth.GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
Q5Is spinel usually treated?
CIBJO's Gemstone Book records heat treatment of spinel as occasional.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022AGTA marks spinel heated for colour as needing only normal care.AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.Diffusion-treated spinel also needs normal care, but should not be repolished or recut.AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.
Q6Can spinel fade?
High heat can fade some colours, but spinel is stable to light and chemicals.GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)For display, case heat, sunlight and artificial light are all rated relatively safe.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
Q7Where does gem spinel form?
In metamorphic terrains the usual host rock for gem spinel is marble, as at Luc Yen in Vietnam.G&G Fall 2021After weathering and erosion, spinel is carried into river beds and concentrated in placer deposits where it can be mined.G&G Fall 2021
Q8What makes good-quality spinel?
Red is generally the most desirable spinel colour, followed by fine cobalt blue and then vibrant hot pink and vivid orange, and spinel without eye-visible inclusions is rated above spinel whose inclusions can be seen.GIA Spinel Quality Factors
Q9What is black spinel?
In CIBJO's nomenclature table black spinel appears as pleonaste, a member of the spinel group, under the trade names Pleonaste or Black Spinel, with no treatment listed as always the case.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
Q10What does spinel symbolize, and does it have healing powers?
There is no scientific evidence that spinel has healing powers: the UK advertising regulators ASA and CAP state that they have not seen evidence that crystal therapy can treat medical conditions.ASA/CAP guidance (UK)Its recorded cultural role is as an August birthstone: Jewelers of America and Japan's JJA list it for August, and the U.K. National Association of Jewellers lists it as an alternative for August.Cultural records
Sources cited in these answers ASA/CAP guidance (UK)
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How Spinel forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale; where its colour and optical effects come from, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify SpinelIdentification points from the research literature; how far lab testing can go and whether a synthetic exists
- Treatments and enhancements of Spinel4 registered treatments: status, stability, how common they are and identification leads
- Caring for and wearing SpinelCleaning, heat, chemicals and light, as the cited sources give them; durability indicators and wearing advice
- Hardness, density and refractive index of SpinelEach value with its source and check date
- Spinel in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name, names in national standards; and: Which of GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A have a name for it on record, and do those agree?
- Name origin and history of SpinelWhere the name comes from
- Listing and disclosing SpinelThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale; how lab reports word it
- Standard clauses that define SpinelWhich clause defines it, each cross-checked
What we cannot conclude
- Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
- Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
- Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.
Material research: formation, causes and history
What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.
How it forms
Spinel is the gem species of the spinel group, ideally MgAl2O4 (magnesium aluminium spinel), a cubic complex oxide. Natural gem spinel is recovered mainly from two geological settings: marble/metacarbonate hosts in metamorphic terrains (for instance Luc Yen in Vietnam and Badakhshan in Afghanistan) plus river placer deposits. The Kuh-i-Lal spinel of Tajikistan lies in forsterite lenses of magnesian skarn in the Goran metamorphic series, its formation tied to the Tertiary collision between the Eurasian plate and the Indian subcontinent within the Himalayan orogenic belt. Colour in spinel derives from several transition-metal chromophores mixed in its lattice. This record draws on GIA sources only, as no dedicated mineralogical data entry is available.
Scope: Covers the origin and occurrence, composition and colouring mechanism of natural gem-quality spinel (the MgAl2O4 end-member); does not address synthetic spinel or other spinel-group mineral species, and does not substitute facts about other species in the group for spinel itself.
Sources G&G Fall 2021 · G&G Fall 2022
Where it forms
Marble/metacarbonate rocks within metamorphic terrains (the typical source rock for gem spinel), e.g. Luc Yen (Vietnam) and Badakhshan (Afghanistan)
Sources G&G Fall 2021
River placer deposits (e.g. the alluvial deposit in the rice paddies of Luc Yen, Vietnam)
Sources G&G Fall 2021
Kuh-i-Lal, Tajikistan: forsterite lenses of magnesian skarn in the Goran metamorphic series
Sources G&G Fall 2022
How it forms, step by step
During regional metamorphism, Mg- and Al-rich carbonate rocks (marble) are metamorphosed, supplying Mg and Al for spinel crystallization.
MgAl2O4 spinel crystallizes under metamorphic fluid and temperature conditions, commonly accompanied by calcite/graphite or phlogopite and amphibole.
At Kuh-i-Lal (Tajikistan) spinel crystallizes in forsterite lenses of magnesian skarn, with formation linked to the Eurasian–Indian plate collision.
After weathering and erosion, spinel is transported into river beds and concentrated in placer deposits (e.g. Luc Yen) where it can be mined.
Link to appearance
Fine gem spinel shows a range of colours produced when several chromophores mix in varying proportions and concentrations. Vivid blue usually comes from Co2+, red from Cr3+ and orange from V3+; purple stones are generally coloured by Fe, or by Cr and V together with subordinate Fe. Some spinel shows orange-red fluorescence under long-wave UV.
Sources G&G Fall 2021 · G&G Fall 2022
Timescale
The sources give no absolute geological age for spinel formation; the Tajikistan source only links formation to the Tertiary Himalayan collision (without a numerical age).
Sources G&G Fall 2022
Supporting findings
In metamorphic terrains the usual host rock for gem spinel is marble. Beneath the Luc Yen region of Vietnam lie supracrustal metamorphic rocks that contain substantial marble — the usual gem-spinel host — and spinel is also worked from placers in that area.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes the source rock and setting of gem spinel; it does not cover other species of the spinel group.
Kuh-i-Lal spinel (Tajikistan) developed within the Goran metamorphic series, a high-grade metamorphic rock, in a forsterite lens of magnesian skarn; its formation is tied to the Tertiary collision of the Eurasian plate with the Indian subcontinent within the Himalayan orogenic belt.
Evidence grade AScope: Applies to the Kuh-i-Lal occurrence; it does not extrapolate to spinel from other localities.
Recorded localities
Authoritative sources list the localities below; the list is not exhaustive.
Africa
- Tanzania
Sources Gems & Gemology Spring 2021
Asia
- Myanmar
Sources Gems & Gemology Spring 2021
- Pakistan
Sources Gems & Gemology Spring 2021
- Sri Lanka
Sources Gems & Gemology Spring 2021
- Kuh-i-Lal, Pamir, Tajikistan
Sources Gems & Gemology Spring 2021 · G&G Fall 2022
- Luc Yen, Yen Bai, Vietnam
Sources Gems & Gemology Winter 2013
- Badakhshan, AfghanistanOrigin of a G&G study sample
These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.
Causes of colour and optical effects
Gem spinel's vivid colours come from several chromophores mixed in differing ratios and concentrations. Purple stones are usually coloured by Fe, or by Cr and V with subordinate Fe, while the Vietnamese sample owes its colour mainly to cobalt and chromium.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes spinel's general colour mechanisms and a specific sample; it does not apply a single-chromophore rule to all spinel.
Pink Kuh-i-Lal spinel (Tajikistan) owes its colour to the joint action of spin-allowed Cr3+, Fe3+ and V3+ transitions plus Fe2+–Fe3+ intervalence charge transfer.
Evidence grade AScope: The measured colour mechanism for Kuh-i-Lal pink spinel; it does not extrapolate to other colours or localities.
Where the name comes from
In the CIBJO Gemstone Book's nomenclature table, black spinel appears as pleonaste, a member of the spinel group, under the trade names 'Pleonaste' or 'Black Spinel', with no treatment listed as always the case.
Evidence grade BScope: Reports how one trade nomenclature table names and classifies black spinel; it does not establish whether any particular black stone is spinel, natural or synthetic, which only laboratory testing can determine.
Sources CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
How it is identified
A spinel's appearance alone does not establish a natural origin or rule out synthesis and treatment. Discrimination rests on laboratory chemistry — major and trace elements measured by methods such as LA-ICP-MS or electron-probe microanalysis — together with microscopic and spectral observation, and origin or treatment judgements depend on reference data and remain uncertain. None of this can be reproduced at home; identification and any treatment call must come from a qualified gem laboratory.
Evidence grade AScope: A general principle for such material; chemical and origin judgements require a specialist laboratory and remain uncertain, and the conclusion should come from a qualified body.
Other research findings
Spinel is a series of metal oxides with the general formula (A1−iBi)IV(AiB2−i)VIO4; gem-quality spinel is composed mainly of MgAl2O4.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes spinel's ideal structure and gem-level composition; not a chemical analysis of any specimen.
Red spinel is generally the most desirable colour, followed by fine cobalt-blue spinel, then vibrant hot pink and vivid orange stones; spinel with no eye-visible inclusions is rated above spinel whose inclusions can be seen.
Evidence grade BScope: Quality factors as described by one educational source; not a grading standard and not a statement about the value of any piece.
Sources GIA Spinel Quality Factors
Limits of this research
- Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
- The sources consulted include no mineralogical data entry for spinel (the MgAl2O4 end member), as the Handbook of Mineralogy has no spinel entry; every fact here rests on GIA sources alone, so the account of how spinel forms has limited support.
- The GIA sources give no P-T conditions or absolute age for spinel crystallization (beyond the orogenic setting), so no P-T-t conditions are asserted.
- Facts about other species of the spinel group (e.g. gahnite, hercynite) are not used to substitute for spinel itself.
- Reported chemistry and colour mechanisms are for specific samples (Vietnam, Afghanistan, Tajikistan) and do not represent all spinel.
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
Evidence grades
- A
- Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
- B
- Institutional educational material
- C
- Specialist databases or cautious readings
A statement is never graded above its strongest source.
This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.
DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments
- Suggested listing name
- Spinel
GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.1 “Spinel” · CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 §7.2.1.226 “Spinel”
Construction or treatment status
Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments recorded for this material: Filled / Fracture-filled, Dyed, Diffusion-treated
Related:Disclosure and cautions
This page cannot answer
Natural? · Origin · Price
A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.
Related:What this page can answer
Answer at a glance
CIBJO treats gem spinel as a defined mineral species; it must not be conflated with synthetic spinel or with other minerals of the spinel group.
Evidence
- CIBJO · 7.2.1.226
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Spinel" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.
Known uncertainty
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-01
Care and wear
Care
care (cleaning)2 sources compared
Spinel — care (cleaning): Fracture filling is rare; where present, the filler can change over time and spoil the appearance, and the stone should be cleaned only with warm soapy water or a damp cloth.
GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
- Treatment state
- treated
- Only after these treatments
- filling
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia — Spinel Care and Cleaning Guide: Section “Treatment concerns” (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — care (cleaning): ultrasonic and steamer: use caution.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Spinel row, CLEANING column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — care (cleaning): Warm soapy water is always safe; ultrasonic and steam cleaning are usually fine, though inclusions such as fractures could be a problem.
GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia — Spinel Care and Cleaning Guide: Section “Cleaning” (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — care (heat): High heat can fade some colours; it is stable to light and chemicals.
GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia — Spinel Care and Cleaning Guide: Section “Stability” (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — care (wear): Mohs 8 with good toughness: a durable jewellery gem.
GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia — Spinel Care and Cleaning Guide: Section “Hardness and toughness” (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — care (special care): diffusion-treated: normal care, but avoid repolishing or recutting.
AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.
- Treatment state
- treated
- Only after these treatments
- diffusion treatment
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th edition (August 2026) (AGTA): p.XIV, Gemstone Information Chart, Spinel U, CARE REQUIRED / SPECIAL ADVICE (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — care (special care): heated for colour: normal care.
AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.
- Treatment state
- treated
- Only after these treatments
- heating
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th edition (August 2026) (AGTA): p.XIV, Gemstone Information Chart, Spinel H, CARE REQUIRED / SPECIAL ADVICE (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — care (setting): prong and bezel: relatively safe; channel: use caution; flush: use extreme caution; pavé: avoid; note: it may be brittle.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Spinel row, SETTING column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — care (repair): polishing: relatively safe; pickle pot and thermal shock: use caution; jeweller's torch: avoid; note: light colours may fade in intense heat.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Spinel row, REPAIR column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — care (display): heat in the display case, sunlight and artificial light: relatively safe.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Spinel row, DISPLAY column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Common care questions and matching entries
CleaningCare for Spinel: on cleaning, the GIA Gem Encyclopedia states that warm soapy water is always safe and ultrasonic and steam cleaning are usually fine, though inclusions such as fractures may cause problems; for filled stones, the GIA Gem Encyclopedia states they should be cleaned only with warm soapy water or a damp cloth; Martin, Gemstone Durability: Design to Display, states for untreated Spinel that ultrasonic and steam cleaning need caution; in repair the jeweller's torch should be avoided and the pickle pot and thermal shock need caution; in setting, prong and bezel settings are relatively safe, channel setting needs caution, tension setting needs extreme caution and pavé should be avoided; on display, heat, sunlight and artificial light in the display case are relatively safe. Heat, light and chemicalsOn heat, light and chemicals, the GIA Gem Encyclopedia states that high heat can fade some colours, while it is stable to light and chemicals. WearOn wear, the GIA Gem Encyclopedia states that Spinel, at Mohs 8 and with good toughness, is a durable jewellery gem. General careFor diffusion-treated stones, the AGTA Gemstone Information Manual states that general care is sufficient but repolishing or recutting should be avoided; for stones heated to improve colour, general care is sufficient.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
Care entries by treatment state
The same entries grouped by the treatment state each applies to; each links to its full wording and source. Letters are CIBJO special-care codes, explained on the gemstone care page.
untreated
- ultrasonic and steamer: use caution
- prong and bezel: relatively safe; channel: use caution; flush: use extreme caution; pavé: avoid; note: it may be brittle
- polishing: relatively safe; pickle pot and thermal shock: use caution; jeweller's torch: avoid; note: light colours may fade in intense heat
- heat in the display case, sunlight and artificial light: relatively safe
any treatment state
- Warm soapy water is always safe; ultrasonic and steam cleaning are usually fine, though inclusions such as fractures could be a problem
- High heat can fade some colours; it is stable to light and chemicals
- Mohs 8 with good toughness: a durable jewellery gem
treated (Only after these treatments: filling)
treated (Only after these treatments: diffusion treatment)
treated (Only after these treatments: heating)
Durability and wearing
Toughness
Good toughness
Sources GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
Treatments and identification leads
Registered treatmentsThe registered treatments for Spinel are heating, diffusion, dyeing and filling. Values not givenHeating has the status treated, stability stable and prevalence occasional; diffusion and filling have the status treated, and dyeing the status colour-treated; the stability and prevalence of diffusion, dyeing and filling are all recorded as “—”, meaning the cited source gives no value, not “none”. Identification cluesOn identification leads, diffusion can be recognised by heat-healed fractures, crystal inclusions that have undergone a phase change, colour concentrated in fractures or pits, and abnormal levels of the diffused element in the surface layer; dyeing shows as uneven colour and an abnormal UV-visible spectrum; filling can be recognised by the filler differing in lustre from the host, a flash effect and gas bubbles.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Treatment | Market frequency (CIBJO) | Stability (CIBJO) | GB/T 16552 category | JJA/AGL listing | Identification leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| heatingStatus: treated | occasionally | stable | — | — | — |
| diffusion treatmentStatus: treated | — | — | Treatment | — | See identification leads |
| dyeingStatus: colour treated | — | — | Treatment | — | See identification leads |
| fillingStatus: treated | — | — | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 | — | See identification leads |
Where each treatment acts (schematics): Heated / Heat-treated · Diffusion-treated · Dyed · Filled / Fracture-filled
“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 · GB/T 16553—2017; GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1; JJA/AGL 2025
Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):
- GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
- CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15
What this table covers
What this page can give
- Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
- Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing
How lab reports word it
Spinel — how lab reports word it (definition used on reports): On reports, cobalt spinel is magnesium-aluminium spinel whose blue comes mainly from traces of cobalt; cobalt added by treatment does not count.
LMHC Information Sheet #14
Definition in the information sheet (original wording): a Mg-Al spinel of blue colour containing traces of cobalt
- Applies only to
- cobalt spinel
- Case
- when the variety name may be used
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- LMHC Information Sheet #14, Version 1, May 2025 (LMHC): p.1, “Definition” (Information Sheet #14) (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — how lab reports word it (identification line): If the variety line does not say cobalt, this note can be added instead.
LMHC Information Sheet #14
Wording on the report: may be called cobalt spinel in the trade
- Applies only to
- cobalt spinel
- Case
- when the variety name may be used
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- LMHC Information Sheet #14, Version 1, May 2025 (LMHC): p.2, “Report wording” (Information Sheet #14) (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — how lab reports word it (suggested testing): Cobalt is often below the X-ray fluorescence limit and is only clearly detected by mass spectrometry; blue spinel whose iron band outweighs the cobalt band does not qualify.
LMHC Information Sheet #14
Rule in the information sheet (original wording): clearly detectable by mass spectrometry
- Applies only to
- cobalt spinel
- Case
- all cases
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- LMHC Information Sheet #14, Version 1, May 2025 (LMHC): p.1, “Suggested identification” (Information Sheet #14) (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources
Names
Besides Spinel, the name register records "Black Spinel", "Gahnospinel" and "Pleonaste", for which no restriction on use as a name is recorded (CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 Annex 8 “Black Spinel”; CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 §7.2.1.93 “Gahnospinel”; CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 Annex 8 “Gahnospinel”; CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 Annex 8 “Pleonaste”); 2 further names in non-Latin scripts are listed in the name register below (1 with no restriction recorded on use as a name, 1 that must not be used as a name).
Standard and listing namesThe GB/T 16552—2017 formal name for Spinel is the Chinese name for spinel (Table A.1), and the suggested listing name is Spinel. Names in four languagesThe four-language names are the Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Japanese names (the Japanese being the GSJ (Japan) formal name) together with the English name Spinel. National standard namesGermany (RAL) writes Spinell and the EU writes Spinel. Trade and mineralogical namesThe mineralogical name is Spinel (MgAl2O4), the gem mineral species within the spinel group. Institution usageOn authority wording, GIA and CIBJO have Spinel on record; the FTC text has no wording for Spinel, which has been checked; Gem-A has not yet been checked. Bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name, which does not represent their position. Trade and mineralogical namesThe name register also includes Black Spinel, Gahnospinel and Pleonaste as narrower English names, and black spinel as a trade name. Candidate search termsRuby spinel is likewise a trade name but is registered as an unusable name and serves only as a candidate search term, since GB/T 16552—2017 lists naming a stone by combining two or more natural gem names as a case that should not be used, and ruby spinel is one such counter-example.
Name register
Every name recorded for this entry, with how it is classified, whether it may be matched to this entry automatically, whether it may be used as a product name, and the clause it rests on.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Name | Type | Matching | Use as a name | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no restriction recorded (4) | ||||
| Black SpinelEnglish | narrower name (variety or subtype) | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 Annex 8 “Black Spinel” |
| GahnospinelEnglish | narrower name (variety or subtype) | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 §7.2.1.93 “Gahnospinel”; CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 Annex 8 “Gahnospinel” |
| PleonasteEnglish | narrower name (variety or subtype) | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 Annex 8 “Pleonaste” |
| 黑尖晶石Simplified Chinese | market name | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | editorial ruling (no clause cited); Note: Colour qualifier. |
| not to be used as a name (1) | ||||
| 红宝石尖晶石Simplified Chinese | market name | search candidate only | not to be used as a name | GB/T 16552—2017 5.1.2.1 c); Note: GB/T 16552—2017 §5.1.2.1 c) uses it as the example of a rule: the names of two or more natural gems must not be combined to name one gem (a counter-example, not a trade name). |
How each authority words this name: see Names › Authority wording.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- スピネル／尖晶石
- Chinese formal name
- 尖晶石 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.1)
- Mineralogical name
- Spinel (MgAl2O4), the gem mineral species within the spinel group
- Trade names and synonyms
- Gahnospinel (narrower name (variety or subtype)) · Pleonaste (narrower name (variety or subtype)) · Black Spinel (narrower name (variety or subtype))
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 尖晶石
- 繁體中文
- 尖晶石
- English
- Spinel
- 日本語
- スピネル／尖晶石
National and regional formal names
- Germany (RAL)
- Spinell
- European Union
- Spinel
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural inorganic gem materials
- Browsing family
- Oxide minerals
- Identity tier
- Mineral species
- Mineral chemical class
- Oxides / hydroxides
- Construction or treatment status
- Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments listed by standards
GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1
Table B.1, row “Spinel” (p.15):
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Method | Effect | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Filling | Improves or changes durability and appearance | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 |
| Dyeing | Improves or changes colour | Treatment |
| Diffusion | Improves or changes colour | Treatment |
What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.
JJA/AGL (Japan) table of principal gem names, 2025
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Gem name | Species | Colour | Listed in the table | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [colour] Spinel | Spinel | any colour | an untreated tier is listed |
JJA/AGL definitions and nomenclature (2025 revision), table of principal gem names, p.13
How to read the JJA/AGL table: see the Gem treatments page.
What it is and how it's identified
The composition of Spinel is MgAl2O4, which may contain elements such as Cr, Fe, Zn and Mn, and the phase is spinel (spinel group); it is crystalline and cubic, with octahedral crystals, sometimes in combination with rhombic dodecahedra and cubes. Mohs hardness is 8, with imperfect cleavage; this site notes that hardness alone is not enough to judge durability. Density is 3.57–3.7 g/cm³, derived from the cited clause value of 3.60 with an allowed deviation of +0.10/−0.03. Optically it is isotropic, with a refractive index of 1.71–1.735, derived from the cited clause value of 1.718 with an allowed deviation of +0.017/−0.008; there is no birefringence, and transparency ranges from transparent to opaque. When untreated, there is no pleochroism, the lustre is vitreous to subadamantine, and magnification shows gas-liquid inclusions, mineral inclusions, growth striations, twinning lines and tiny octahedral negative crystals, occurring singly or arranged in fingerprint patterns. Among optical effects, a star effect may be seen but is rare, and a colour-change effect may be seen.
Registered material facts
Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
Definition
Spinel — nomenclature status: IMA status G: grandfathered (described before the IMA existed, and generally regarded as a valid species).
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Spinel — composition (chemistry): MgAl2O4, elements such as Cr,Fe,Zn and Mn may be contained.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — composition (phase): spinel (spinel group)
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Structure
Spinel — structure (overall): crystalline
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — structure (crystal system): cubic
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — structure (crystal habit): octahedra, sometimes combined with rhombic dodecahedron and cube faces.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Durability
Spinel — Mohs hardness: 8
GB/T 16553—2017
Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- General note
- hardness only, not durability
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — cleavage: imperfect
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
For Spinel, the stability of heating is “stable”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- heating
- Qualification
This says how well the treatment holds up, not how durable Spinel itself is.
- General note
- no durability verdict here
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Physical properties
Spinel — density: 3.57–3.7 g/cm³
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives 3.60, with a stated tolerance of +0.10 / -0.03. The range shown here is worked out from that.
- General note
- the clause has finer ranges
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Optical
Spinel — optic character: isotropic material
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — refractive index: 1.71–1.735
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives 1.718, with a stated tolerance of +0.017 / -0.008. The range shown here is worked out from that.
- General note
- the clause has finer ranges
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — birefringence: none
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — transparency: transparent to opaque.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Spinel — pleochroism: none
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — fluorescence (overall): red, orange, pink: long wave weak to strong, red, orange-red; short wave none to weak, red, orange-red; green: long wave none to moderate, orange to orange-red; other colours: generally none.
GB/T 16553—2017
UV fluorescenceredorange-redweak–strong, red, orange, pinkredorange-rednone–weakorangeorange-rednone–moderate, greenDots are illustrative colours built from the colour names, not measured values
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — spectrum (UV-visible): red: 685 nm strong absorption peak; 684 nm strong absorption peak; 656 nm weak absorption band; 490~595 nm strong absorption band; blue, violet: 460 nm strong absorption band; 430~435 nm absorption band; 480 nm absorption band; 550 nm absorption band; 565~575 nm absorption band; 590 nm absorption band; 625 nm absorption band.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — spectrum (infrared): Mg-O and Al-O vibrations give diagnostic bands in the mid-IR
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — optical effect (asterism): seen; rare
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — optical effect (colour change): seen
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — magnification: gas-liquid inclusions, mineral inclusions, growth striations, twin striations, tiny negative crystals of octahedral shape, occurring singly or grouped into fingerprint patterns.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
body colour2 sources compared
Spinel — body colour: colorless or red — including orange-red, pink-red and purple-red — as well as brown, orange-yellow, yellow, green, blue, purple and others.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The colours GB/T 16553—2017 lists for Synthetic Spinel overlap with this entry: red, colourless, yellow, blue and green.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — body colour: Pink to red, orange, blue, blue-green, violet, purple, black.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Qualification
In chapter 7 of the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book, the colour descriptions of Colour-Change Garnet, Scapolite, Fluorite and other entries also name pink or a pinkish colour.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
How the sources relate
- GB/T 16553—2017 and CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Both list pink to red, orange, blue and purple. GB/T 16553—2017 also lists colourless, yellow, brown and green; the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book also lists blue-green and black.
- CIBJO definitions
- asterism, colour change
Quality factors
Spinel — quality factor (lustre): vitreous to subadamantine
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.723 / 3.63; Closest values: 1Rhodochrosite 1.707 / 3.58, 2Alexandrite 1.749 / 3.73, 3Sinhalite 1.688 / 3.48, 4Pyrope 1.728 / 3.9, 5Vesuvianite / Idocrase 1.711 / 3.38
Show the full chart (330 registered materials)
Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22
Testing and market
For diffusion-treated Spinel, magnification shows heat-healed fractures and transformed crystal inclusions; under immersion or diffused light, colour is concentrated in fractures or depressions; compositional instruments such as XRF can detect anomalous levels of surface diffused elements (such as cobalt) decreasing from the surface inward; and laser photoluminescence spectroscopy can help separate cobalt-diffused blue Spinel from naturally cobalt-bearing blue Spinel. Dyed Spinel shows uneven colour under magnification, mostly gathered in fractures or surface depressions, and an anomalous UV-visible spectrum. Filled Spinel shows, under a loupe, exposed filler with a lustre different from the host, possibly with flash effects and gas bubbles; the infrared spectrum can detect characteristic filler bands, and luminescence imaging (such as UV fluorescence viewers) can show where the filler lies. The leads for diffusion, dyeing and filling come from GB/T 16553—2017, which can only be used as a reference for Spinel and does not govern it directly. Synthetic Spinel is available on the market; the CIBJO laboratory protocol requires checks focused on synthetics and heat treatment, and also focuses on synthetics for cobalt spinel.
The tests the CIBJO laboratory protocol requires for this material, and what each method means, are in the protocol table on the laboratory testing page: §6.1.78, §6.1.79.
How far testing can go
Spinel that has undergone diffusion treatment can be identified by the following features: Magnification shows healed fissures caused by heating and crystal inclusions that have undergone a phase change. Viewed under magnification in immersion or in scattered light, the color concentrates between fissures and in hollows.
Compositional analysis (XRF and the like) can detect an abnormal content of the diffused element — cobalt, for instance — in the surface layer, the concentration falling from the surface inwards. Laser photoluminescence spectroscopy helps tell cobalt-diffusion-treated blue spinel from natural blue spinel that carries cobalt.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- diffusion treatment
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (diffusion treatment) (locator checked 2026-09-22)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Spinel that has undergone dyeing can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the colour is unevenly distributed and mostly concentrated between fissures or in surface hollows; the UV-visible spectrum looks abnormal.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- colour treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (dyeing) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel that has undergone filling can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the exposed part of the filler has a surface luster differing from that of the host stone, and the filled area may show a flash effect and gas bubbles; infrared spectra show characteristic absorption bands of the filler; luminescence imaging (such as a UV fluorescence viewer) shows how the filler is distributed.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- filling
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.11 (filling) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Spinel — synthetic counterpart on the market: A synthetic counterpart of this material is commercially available
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
For Spinel in trade, the reported frequency of heating is “occasionally”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- heating
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Spinel — what the CIBJO laboratory protocol says to watch for: synthetics
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
- Applies only to
- cobalt spinel
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — what the CIBJO laboratory protocol says to watch for: synthetics, heat-treatment
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Spinel — notes on test methods in the CIBJO laboratory protocol:
| Test method | What the protocol notes for it |
|---|---|
| Phenomena: | Star, colour change |
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Clause-level definitions
Spinel has a clause-level definition in CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 under the entry name Spinel, registered as mineral group spinel, mineral species spinel and IMA status G, noting that the CIBJO wording is quoted in full under Clause-level definitions on this page; the cross-check result is that it is defined directly by CIBJO and also appears in the GB/T annex. CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 also gives a definition under the entry name Gahnospinel: light to dark blue, transparent to translucent, a zinc-rich variety of spinel; the cross-check result is that it is defined directly by CIBJO, and no identically named English entry was found in this edition of the GB/T annex. The IMA Mineral List entry Spinel is registered as Spinel MgAl2O4, status G, cross-checked against the RRUFF/IMA master mineral list; this is public domain data.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Term | Clause | Definition | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gahnospinel | 7.2.1.93 | Light to dark blue, transparent to translucent; zinc-rich variety of spinel | Defined directly by CIBJO; no identically named English entry was found in this edition of the GB/T annex. |
| Spinel | 7.2.1.226 | Pink to red, orange, blue, blue-green, violet, purple, black; transparent to opaque. Colour change may occur, asterism is rare. See also cobalt spinel, gahnospinel | Defined directly by CIBJO; also present in the GB/T annex. |
| Spinel | IMA Mineral List entry | Spinel MgAl2O4 G 1546 | Cross-checked against the RRUFF/IMA master mineral list (public domain data). |
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. Gemmological Laboratories Book (Blue Book), Gemmological Commission 2024-1.
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. The Gemstone Book (Blue Book), 2022.
- SAMR / SAC (China). GB/T 16552—2017 Gems — Nomenclature.
- GIA – Gemological Institute of America (United States). Gem Encyclopedia: Spinel.
- RRUFF Project, in partnership with the IMA – International Mineralogical Association. IMA Mineral List.
Further reading
Recorded cultural contexts
The U.S. Jewelers of America roster lists Spinel for August; the U.K. National Association of Jewellers chart lists Spinel as an alternative for August; and Japan's JJA 2021 revised roster lists Spinel for August. This records trade-association convention only; it does not establish material identity, natural origin, treatment, provenance, or effect.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Publisher or holder | Region | From / period | Source and locator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewelers of America | United States | from 2016 | Jewelers of America, “Birthstone Jewelry” (web page, consulted 2026-08-22) Birthstone roster table, August row: Spinel |
| Japan Jewellery Association | Japan | from 20 December 2021 | Tanjoseki (Japanese birthstone roster, Japan Jewellery Association page; revision of 20 December 2021) 2021 revised birthstone roster, August row: Spinel |
| National Association of Jewellers | United Kingdom | — | National Association of Jewellers, “Zodiac Birthstones Jewellery: Star Signs, Gemstones and Their Meaning” (web page, consulted 2026-08-22) Zodiac birthstone chart, August row: Spinel (Alternative) |
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
Related-entry tree for Spinel on this site: 3 entries listed by this site's parent-entry links; synthetic, treated and similar entries carry their recorded state after the name; this page (Spinel) is marked.
- Spinel
Sub-entries (2)
- Cobalt Spinel
- Synthetic Spinel (Synthetic product)
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Page | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing family | Oxide minerals | Live |
| Treatments recorded for this material | Filled / Fracture-filled, Dyed, Diffusion-treated | Live |
| Related articles | To be added (placeholder) | Planned |
Who maintains this page
The material facts in the Spinel entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original; clause-level definitions also carry a cross-check result. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.