Spinel

Spinel
Small spinel crystal on top of a white calcite from Mogok, Myanmar, measuring 1.5 × 1.1 × 1 cm in size
General
Category
Formula
(repeating unit)
MgAl
2
O
4
IMA symbolSpl[1]
Strunz classification4.BB.05
Crystal systemCubic
Crystal classHextetrahedral (43m)
H–M symbol: (43m)[2][3][4]
Space groupF 4 3 m (No. 216)
Unit cella = 8.0898(9) Å; Z = 8
Identification
ColorVarious; red, pink, blue, lavender/violet, dark green, brown, black, colourless
Crystal habitOctahedral or flat triangular plates caused by twinning
Twinningcommon
CleavageNone
FractureConchoidal
Mohs scale hardness7.5–8.0
LusterVitreous
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent to opaque
Specific gravity(Depending on the composition) The rare Zn-rich spinel can be as high as 4.40, otherwise it averages from 3.58 to 3.61.
Optical propertiesIsotropic
Refractive index1.719
PleochroismAbsent
SolubilityNone
Other characteristicsWeak to medium magnetic, sometimes fluorescent (red synthetic yes, natural red sometimes)
References[5][6]
Polyhedral representation of spinel MgAl2O4

Spinel (/spɪˈnɛl, ˈspɪnəl/[7]) is the magnesium/aluminium member of the larger spinel group of minerals. It has the formula MgAl
2
O
4
in the cubic crystal system. Its name comes from the Latin word spinella, a diminutive form of spine, in reference to its pointed crystals.[5]

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Robert John Lancashire. "Normal Spinels". CHEM2101 (C 21J) Inorganic Chemistry – Chemistry of Transition Metal Complexes. University of the West Indies. Archived from the original on 2018-08-08.
  3. ^ N. W. Grimes; et al. (Apr 8, 1983). "New Symmetry and Structure for Spinel". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences. 386 (1791): 333–345. Bibcode:1983RSPSA.386..333G. doi:10.1098/rspa.1983.0039. JSTOR 2397417. S2CID 96560029.
  4. ^ L. Hwang; et al. (Jul 1973). "On the space group of MgAl
    2
    O
    4
    spinel"
    . Philosophical Magazine. doi:10.1080/14786437308217448.
  5. ^ a b Spinel, Mindat.org
  6. ^ Spinel Mineral Data, WebMineral.com
  7. ^ "spinel". The Chambers Dictionary (9th ed.). Chambers. 2003. ISBN 0-550-10105-5.

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