Reviews
.41" Lustrous Cobalt-Blue Spinel (Cobaltoan) Crystal - Vietnam
What we have here is a breathtaking and quite rare, cobalt-bearing spinel crystal. This electric blue spinel comes from a location near Chai Creek in the Yên Bái Province of Vietnam.
Comes with a small acrylic display case.
Comes with a small acrylic display case.
Cobalt-bearing spinel, or blue spinel, is a bright to deep blue variety of spinel.
Spinel is a metamorphic magnesium-aluminum oxide known for deep reddish-pink octahedral crystals. Before minerals could be identified through chemical tests, spinels were considered rubies. Also like corundums, spinel takes well to lab growth: light blue lab-grown spinel is often an inexpensive alternative for aquamarine.
Spinel is colored by impurities, and the blues in cobaltoan spinel come from a higher ratio of cobalt to iron impurities. The most gemstone-quality specimens come from the Lục Yên District of Yên Bái Province in northern Vietnam.
Spinel is a metamorphic magnesium-aluminum oxide known for deep reddish-pink octahedral crystals. Before minerals could be identified through chemical tests, spinels were considered rubies. Also like corundums, spinel takes well to lab growth: light blue lab-grown spinel is often an inexpensive alternative for aquamarine.
Spinel is colored by impurities, and the blues in cobaltoan spinel come from a higher ratio of cobalt to iron impurities. The most gemstone-quality specimens come from the Lục Yên District of Yên Bái Province in northern Vietnam.
SPECIES
Spinel var. Cobaltoan Spinel
LOCATION
Chai Creek, An Phu Hills, Dong Banh, Yên Bái Province, Vietnam
SIZE
.41 x .40"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#309543
