File:Calcite-Spinel-dtn37a.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
spinel
Sign in to savethumb|Polyhedral representation of spinel MgAl2O4 Spinel () is the magnesium/aluminium member of the larger spinel group of minerals. It has the formula in the cubic crystal system. Its name comes from the Latin word , a diminutive form of spine, in reference to its pointed crystals.
Spinel is a mineral made of magnesium and aluminum with a cubic crystal structure, named after its characteristically pointed crystals. It belongs to a larger family of minerals that share similar chemical and structural properties.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Mineral.boxtextcolor
- White
- Mineral.boxbgcolor
- cb236b
- Mineral.name
- Spinel
- Mineral.image
- Calcite-Spinel-dtn37a.jpg
- Mineral.imagesize
- 260px
- Mineral.caption
- Small spinel crystal on top of a white calcite from Mogok, Myanmar, measuring 1.5 × 1.1 × 1 cm in size
- Mineral.IMAsymbol
- Spl
- Mineral.strunz
- 4.BB.05
- Mineral.system
- Cubic
- Mineral.class
- Hextetrahedral (3m)H–M symbol: (3m)
- Mineral.symmetry
- (No. 216)
- Mineral.unit cell
- a = 8.0898(9) Å;
- Mineral.color
- Various: red, pink, blue, lavender / violet, dark green, brown, black, clear
- Mineral.habit
- Octahedral or flat triangular plates caused by twinning
- Mineral.twinning
- common
- Mineral.cleavage
- None
- Mineral.fracture
- Conchoidal
- Mineral.mohs
- 7.5–8.0
via Wikipedia infobox
~5 min read
Encyclopedic overview
11 sectionsContents
- Properties
- History
- Nomenclature
- Occurrence
- Geologic occurrence
- Geographical occurrence
- Synthetic spinel
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
thumb|Polyhedral representation of spinel MgAl2O4 Spinel () is the magnesium/aluminium member of the larger spinel group of minerals. It has the formula in the cubic crystal system. Its name comes from the Latin word , a diminutive form of spine, in reference to its pointed crystals.
==Properties== thumb|left|Cut spinel Spinel crystallizes in the isometric system; common crystal forms are octahedra, usually twinned. It has no true cleavage, but shows an octahedral parting and a conchoidal fracture. Its hardness is 8, its specific gravity is 3.5–4.1, and it is transparent to opaque with a vitreous to dull luster. It may be colorless, but usually has various shades of red, lavender, blue, green, brown, black, or yellow. Chromium(III) causes the red color in spinel from Burma.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “spinel” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.