Spinel
at-auction$ 20
- Locality
- Mahenge, Morogoro, Tanzania
- Minerals
- Spinel
- Dimensions
- 2.7 x 2.2 x 1.8 cm
- Size class
- Thumbnail
- SID
- ST447
Deep reddish pink, translucent Spinel crystal from Mahenge, Tanzania. In 2007 spinel was discovered in a large marble massif near the town of Mahenge. The best quality have a very saturated hot pink to pure red color without secondary brown overtones, making them highly valuable as gemstones. Therefore, good crystals are often destroyed for their gem value. This is one that fortunately survived the gem industry. It has an overall octahedral form with stepped growth and smaller crystals that come together to complete the larger overall crystal.