Spinel on Marble

A classic and rare purple spinel specimen from Luc Yen, Vietnam

This stunning specimen is a classic example of the deep purple spinels that were mined in the Luc Yen district of Vietnam in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It is a small cabinet specimen, but it is a showy and fine quality example of these well-known spinels.

The piece is highlighted by sharp, lustrous, well-formed octahedral crystals of spinel measuring up to 1.4 cm. The crystals are perched atop a white marble matrix, and they have a deep purple color that is enhanced by backlighting. There is a bit of gemminess that can be seen inside certain portions of the spinels.

The specimen also includes some golden colored crystals of what is likely either phlogopite or chondrodite. There is some minor roughness in a few spots, but the piece is largely in good shape.

Sharp, lustrous, well-formed crystals of spinel of this size on matrix are not common in the mineral world. This specimen is a rare and valuable addition to any mineral collection.

Size: Small Cabinet, 7.3 x 7.1 x 4.3 cm

Location: Sungate Mine, An Phu, Luc Yen Dist., Yen Bai Prov., Vietnam