Name:

spinel

A photo of the mineral spinel

Class:

Oxide/Hydroxides

Chemistry:

MgAl2O4 Magnesium Aluminum Oxide

Color(s):

red, green, blue, black, brown

Hardness:

7.5 - 8.0

SpecGrav:

3.6 - 4.0

Fracture:

conchoidal

Cleavage:

incomplete

Crystal:

Isometric (often in octahedrons and cubes, also sometimes compact and granular)

Envronment:

forms in metamorphic rocks

Association:

zircon, garnet,magnetite, calcite, corundum

Locals:

| Germany | Sweden | USSR | Burma | India | New York, Calif., New Jersey, USA | Canada |

Misc:

The name is probably from the Latin "spina", meaning "thorn". This is because it sometimes forms in small, sharp little crystals, resembling thorns.

Photos
& Locals:

1.) Pakker Mine, Quebec, Canada (in foresterite)
2.) Pakker Mine, Quebec, Canada (in foresterite)

3.) Pakker Mine, Quebec, Canada (in foresterite)
4.) Pakker Mine, Quebec, Canada (in foresterite)

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