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Spinel Mineral Data

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General Spinel Information

Help on Chemical  Formula: Chemical Formula: MgAl2O4
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 142.27 gm
   Magnesium  17.08 %  Mg   28.33 % MgO
   Aluminum   37.93 %  Al   71.67 % Al2O3
   Oxygen     44.98 %  O
             ______        ______ 
             100.00 %      100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: MgAl2O4
Help on Environment: Environment: Metamorphic mineral found in limestone and dolomite marbles and very-low silica and alkali igneous rocks (e.g. peridotites).
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1546
Help on Locality: Locality: Gem gravels of Sri Lanka and other notable locations. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Of uncertain origin, possibly derived from Latin, spina, for "thorn" in allusion to sharply-pointed crystals.
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Spinel Say SPINEL
Help on Synonym: Synonym: Balas ruby - Red
  ICSD 79000
  PDF 21-1152
  Rubicelle
  Ruby spinal
 

Spinel Image

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  Spinel

Comments: Spinel on white marble.
Location: Mogok, Myanmar. Scale: 2.2 x 1.5 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Spinel Crystallography

Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 8.08, Z = 8; V = 527.51 Den(Calc)= 3.58
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Isometric - Hexoctahedral H-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F d3m
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 2.436(1), 2.021(0.7), 1.429(0.6),
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Forms: ( 1 1 0) ( 1 1 1)

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Physical Properties of Spinel

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: None
Help on Color: Color: Colorless, Red, Blue, Green, Brown.
Help on Density: Density: 3.57 - 3.72, Average = 3.64
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent to opaque
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.
Help on Habit: Habit: Euhedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form.
Help on Habit: Habit: Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 8 - Topaz
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Sometimes Fluorescent, Short UV=red, Long UV=red.
Help on Luster: Luster: Vitreous (Glassy)
Help on Magnetism: Magnetism: Nonmagnetic
Help on Streak: Streak: grayish white
 

Optical Properties of Spinel

Help on Gladstone-Dale: Gladstone-Dale: CI meas= -0.017 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.035 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2123,KPDmeas= 0.2085,KC= 0.205
Ncalc = 1.73 - 1.76
Help on Optical Data: Optical Data: Isotropic, n=1.72-1.8.
 

Calculated Properties of Spinel

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.59 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Spinel =3.65 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.01
Boson Index = 0.99
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PESpinel = 1.48 barns/electron
U=PESpinel x rElectron Density= 5.32 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Spinel is Not Radioactive
 

Spinel Classification

Help on  Dana Class: Dana Class: 07.02.01.01 (07)Multiple Oxides
  (07.02)(A+ B++)2 X4 Spinel group
  (07.02.01)(Aluminum subgroup)
 
07.02.01.01 Spinel MgAl2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
07.02.01.02 Galaxite (Mn,Mg)(Al,Fe)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
07.02.01.03 Hercynite FeAl2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
07.02.01.04 Gahnite ZnAl2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
Help on  Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 04.BB.05 04 - OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodate
  04.B - Metal:Oxygen = 3:4 and similar
  04.BB -With only medium-sized cations
 
04.BB.05 Cochromite (Co,Ni,Fe)(Cr,Al)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Filipstadite (Mn,Mg)4SbFeO8 pseudo ISO 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Magnetite FeFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Gahnite ZnAl2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Chromite FeCr2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Galaxite (Mn,Mg)(Al,Fe)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Cuprospinel (Cu,Mg)Fe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Donathite? (Fe,Mg)(Cr,Fe)2O4 P 4/nnm 4/m 2/m 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Brunogeierite (Ge,Fe)Fe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Coulsonite FeV2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Hercynite FeAl2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Franklinite (Zn,Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mn)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Jacobsite (Mn,Fe,Mg)(Fe,Mn)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Magnesiochromite MgCr2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Magnesioferrite MgFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Magnesiocoulsonite MgV2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Manganochromite (Mn,Fe)(Cr,V)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Qandilite (Mg,Fe)2(Ti,Fe,Al)O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Nichromite (Ni,Co,Fe)(Cr,Fe,Al)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Spinel MgAl2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Ulvospinel TiFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Zincochromite ZnCr2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Trevorite NiFe2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.BB.05 Vuorelainenite (Mn,Fe)(V,Cr)2O4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 

Other Spinel Information

Help on References: References: NAME( Sinkankas66) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990;Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Spinel :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
4 - Athena
5 - CalTech Mineral Spectroscopy
6 - Franklin Minerals(Dunn)
7 - Franklin Minerals(Palache)
8 - GeoScienceWorld
9 - Google Images
10 - Google Scholar
11 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
12 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
13 - HyperPhysics
14 - MinDAT
15 - Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom
16 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
17 - NSDL Reciprocal Net (JAVA)
18 - Online Mineral Museum
19 - QUT Mineral Atlas
20 - Ruff.Info
21 - Tradeshop.com - The Rainbow of Gems
22 - University of Colorado - Mineral Structure Data
23 - University of Texas at Austin
24 - theimage

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Spinel Specimen Label here :

Spinel

MgAl2O4
Dana No: 07.02.01.01 Strunz No: 04.BB.05
Locality:

 

Notes:

 

 
   
 


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