Spinel

This crystal has one of the strongest electric pink hues I've seen in a Spinel from Mogok. It's not the gemmiest crystal in the world, but that actually helps to intensify the color. The piece is complete all around with no actual damage, but it does have some small areas of interrupted growth where it was inhibited by the marble host rock in which it formed. Very attractive color, and it's even STRONGER when the crystal is viewed under UV light.

The area around Mogok is world famous for producing the finest crystals and gems of Spinel in the world. Many of these crystals have yielded the most impressive red Ruby Spinel gems ever found. Mogok is most likely the site of the discovery of the famous Black Prince's Ruby in the Crown Jewels of the UK. The significance of the stone in the crown is that it was actually revealed to be a giant (170 carat) Spinel, and not a Ruby as had been thought for centuries. Spinels are typically found in opaque, dark crystals, but we were fortunate to pick up a parcel of not only colorful but GEMMY crystals direct from the source!

Specimen #SPINEL111915