Noble spinel: varieties, description, properties of the mineral, practical significance

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:54

The extraordinary beauty of the mineral spinel is a mixture of magnesium oxide and aluminum. A variety of bright colors and noble radiance have turned this semi-precious stone into one of the most popular and beloved among jewelers. It is believed that, radiating a warm glow, it attracts love and happiness to its owner, protects him from troubles and troubles, and relieves diseases. Jewelry with a noble spinel can become a powerful amulet.

Physical properties of stone

The group of expensive and rare jewelry gems includes spinel. Most often, its crystals are small, but there are samples, although quite rare, whose weight reaches 10 kg, and the length exceeds 30 cm.

Transparent and colorless crystals of the mineral are quite rare. Mineral impurities thatare part of the stone, color it in pink and red, blue and yellow, purple and blue, brown and green and even black. On the Mohs scale, the stone reaches a hardness of 8 units, which is only two places behind diamonds.

History

The noble stone spinel has been known to mankind since ancient times. According to one version, its name comes from the Latin spinelle, which can be translated as "little thorn". Most likely, it was given to the gem because of the pointed shape of its crystals. In addition, there is a version that the name of the mineral comes from the ancient Greek spinos - "sparkle".

In the Middle Ages, the gem was called lal. But this name united a group of expensive red stones. The first description of the noble spinel dates back to the 13th century. Its author was the famous traveler Marco Polo. During his stay in the Pamirs, the Italian drew attention to how the locals mined sparkling red crystals. At first he mistook them for rubies and corundum. For this reason, he named the spinel region the ruby mines.

The red semi-precious stone was only thoroughly studied in the 19th century. Scientists after a series of studies came to the conclusion that this mineral has nothing to do with ruby. It has its own unique properties. Due to its exquisite beauty and rarity, the gem has always been very popular. He decorated the Cap of Monomakh, a magnificent stone of 105 carats flaunts on the crown of the rulers of France. Today it is carefully kept in the Louvre.

In 1762 for the coronationCatherine II ordered to make an imperial crown. She set the craftsmen only two conditions: the weight of the product should not exceed 2.27 kg (5 pounds), and it had to be made in two months.

The crown was made in accordance with the requirements of the Empress. It was encrusted with diamonds and pearls. The crown of the Russian Empire was crowned with a noble ruby spinel of 398.72 carats. Today she is in the Diamond Fund of the Russian Federation.

Another luxurious stone, called the “Ruby of the Black Prince”, was presented to Edward, the ruler of Wales, by the king of Castile in the second half of the 14th century. In fact, the gem turned out to be a huge mineral (spinel) weighing 170 carats. It passed at the beginning of the 15th century to the King of England Henry V. The monarch practically did not part with this stone. During the Hundred Years War, in one of the battles, the helmet of Henry V was cut by the enemy, but could not kill the ruler, because the sword stumbled upon the ruler's favorite stone. During the bourgeois revolution, the gem mysteriously disappeared, but was soon returned to the royal family. Today he adorns the crown of British kings.

What are there?

There are several varieties of noble spinel. They differ not only in appearance, but also in physical properties. The most famous types of mineral are those that we propose to consider next.

Noble spinel

The crystals are transparent, with a rich and deep color. Ruby spinel is called red minerals, reddish-pink - ruby-bale, blue - sapphire-spinel, reddish-orange - rubicella, violet - oriental sapphire. In addition, blue and green spinel, as well as with alexandrite shimmer, belong to this species. They change color depending on the lighting. The noble spinel is mined in Asia. Its largest deposits are in India, Tajikistan, on the islands of Borneo and Sri Lanka.

Pleonast (ordinary spinel, ceylonite)

Translucent minerals that contain a lot of iron in their composition are black, dark green, brown. In nature, this mineral is found much more often than the noble spinel. It is mined in the Urals.

Picotite (chrome spinel)

Opaque greenish-brown, black, brown crystals. The admixture of chromium gives them a dark tint. Basically, this variety is mined in Sri Lanka. Insignificant reserves of the mineral are found in India, Afghanistan, Brazil, USA, Thailand.

Ganite (falunite, zinc spinel)

Quite rare minerals of blue, green, violet and blue hues with iron and zinc in their composition. The stone is mined in Germany, Russia, India, Sweden, USA, Pakistan, Australia and Madagascar.

Healing properties

The healing properties of the noble spinel mineral were described in the 16th century by the Swiss alchemist Paracelsus. The powder, which was obtained after grinding, was used by the scientist to treat many ailments.

Modern lithotherapists use a stone to combat myopia, increase defensesbody, eliminate pain in the joints and muscles. When using noble spinel for medicinal purposes, the color of the stone is taken into account. Each shade of the mineral has its own properties:

Red spinel has a beneficial effect on the blood, strengthens the immune system, after a stroke helps the body recover. Since ancient times, in the East, men have been using red gems to attract the attention of the fairer sex and enhance potency.
Pink stones calm, relieve nightmares, help get rid of insomnia. Minerals of soft pink color effectively fight against skin diseases.
Blue spinel should be worn by people suffering from diseases of the stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, liver. In addition, the mineral has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system and thyroid gland.
Green gems help relieve headaches, relieve arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure. The stone normalizes metabolic processes and increases visual acuity.
Black spinel is recommended for hypotensive patients, women prone to bleeding, feeling unwell. It accelerates the healing of wounds and bruises.

Artificial spinel

On sale in recent years, you can often see jewelry with synthetic spinel - an artificial stone obtained during the crystallization of glass using catalysts. To obtain the desired shade, iron, copper, chromium, manganese, cob alt and other metals are added to the mass. ATas a result, the master receives a glassy transparent stone with microcrystals evenly distributed inside. It practically does not differ from a natural mineral.

Nanospinel is a synthetic analogue of a gem, characterized by high heat resistance and strength. This allows it to be used in the production of jewelry. In addition to jewelry, synthetic spinel is used as an optical and dielectric raw material in the manufacture of various devices.

Magical Properties

Noble spinel has found application not only in medicine, but also in magic. Witches and sorcerers believe that this stone gives a person faith in their own strength, attracts good luck, love and happiness. It helps to discover supernatural abilities, choose the right path in life, and achieve your goals. But this stone benefits only generous, sincere and kind people. An evil and envious person should not rely on the favor of the mineral.

In order for the stone to show its magical properties to the maximum, it should be worn in a gold frame. For example, a spinel in a ring will help single women meet love, find a worthy life partner. It should be worn on the left hand on the index or ring finger.

Gold bracelets or rings with spinel will help couples return passion to relationships, prevent divorce. Jewelry with this stone will allow men to maintain sexual energy until old age. This mineral is ideal for people who are born under the signsAries, Aquarius, Sagittarius, Leo and Capricorn. The gem will improve their strong-willed qualities and mental abilities.

Noble spinel: practical implications

Transparent colored types of mineral are used as precious stones. Artificial spinel is used as a refractory material. Spinel is used in the manufacture of ceramics and in the manufacture of permanent dyes.

In jewelry, red spinel is most often used to make rings and necklaces. In jewelry, a twin mineral can replace not only rubies. Blue spinel is indistinguishable from sapphires, green from emeralds. Black varieties resemble dark diamonds. When purchasing a ring, earrings or necklace, you should check the quality certificate for the stone.