# Spinel

Spinel is a gemstone that can be red, blue, or black! It is often used in jewelry and is very sparkly.

- **Category:** [Mineral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mineral)
- **Rarity:** Epic
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

![Spinel](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426203/objects/5420.jpg)

## Appearance

The Spinel has a dazzling vitreous luster and typically forms sharp, octahedral crystals. Its vibrant colors span a rainbow, from fiery red and deep blue to delicate pink and bright orange, often mistaken for other precious gems.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Ancient kings prized red spinel, often mistaking it for rare rubies!
- Scientists can grow dazzling lab-made spinels that look just like natural ones!
- Some rare spinels can magically change their color depending on the light source!
- Tiny spinel crystals have even been discovered inside rare meteorites from space!

## Special abilities

- **Tough Gem Armor:** Spinel has a high Mohs hardness of 7.5-8 that makes it very durable and resistant to scratches.
- **Single Sparkle Vision:** Spinel is singly refractive, meaning light travels through it in one direction, giving it a unique optical clarity.
- **Color Chameleon:** Spinel exhibits a wide range of intense colors because of trace impurities like iron, chromium, and vanadium.

## Measurements & details

- **Color Range:** red, pink, orange, yellow, brown, black, violet, blue, purple, colorless
- **Hardness:** 7.5
- **Luster:** vitreous
- **Specific Gravity:** 3.6
- **Crystal System:** isometric

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Gemstone](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gemstone): A gemstone is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut and polished, is used to make jewelry or other adornments.

## Collections

- [Minerals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals)
- [Minerals & Rocks](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals-and-rocks)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Handle gently and avoid sharp edges. Ask an adult before picking anything up.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Spinel?

Compare crystal faces, growth shape, clarity and how the crystals cluster. A polished or tumbled stone has lost much of the natural shape that makes identification easier. Crystal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What colors can Spinel be?

red, pink, orange, yellow, brown, black, violet, blue, purple, colorless

### How hard is Spinel?

7.5

### What kind of luster does Spinel have?

vitreous

### What is Spinel's specific gravity?

3.6

### What crystal system does Spinel belong to?

isometric

## More Mineral

- [Quartz Crystal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quartz-crystal)
- [Amethyst](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amethyst)
- [Rose Quartz](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-quartz)
- [Citrine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/citrine)

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Source: [Spinel: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spinel)