Okie, so I've done some very basic testing and there's a good chance this actually is spinel, the S.G. was in range at 3.57, no noticeable magnetic response with a neodymium magnet so garnet is out and taaffeite is less likely than spinel. I wanted to see if anyone could offer insight on the inclusions. The pictures aren't great, but for the equipment I have, this is the best of what I could manage. The red/orange piece also looks black with a metallic/oily look when viewed from other angles. There are what appear to be very tiny different colored crystals around the inclusion mass but I couldn't capture those, and the white/clear mass has a weak rainbow effect across it in areas in good light. There's also one bubble shaped inclusion that's too small to see without good magnification that has a tiny little black dot in the middle, just outside the main mass.
Just a note, the lines at the bottom in the first picture are on the surface, the polish on this stone was garbage.
My suggestion - the black spot in spinel might be metamict zircon or, even more chances - uraninite crystals, also graphite is possible. Brown crystal with surraunded stress cracks - magnetite, it is actually black and often appears metallic greyish brown under bright reflected light.
_________________ All stones are alike, all stones are precious; but man sees only a few of them... Maurice Maeterlinck
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum