spinel

American  

[spi-nel, spin-l] / spɪˈnɛl, ˈspɪn l /

Or spinelle

noun

1. any of a group of minerals composed principally of oxides of magnesium, aluminum, iron, manganese, chromium, etc., characterized by their hardness and octahedral crystals.

2. a mineral of this group, essentially magnesium aluminate, MgAl 2 O 4 , some varieties being used as gems.

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spinel British  

/ spɪˈnɛl /

noun

1. any of a group of hard glassy minerals of variable colour consisting of oxides of aluminium, magnesium, chromium, iron, zinc, or manganese and occurring in the form of octahedral crystals: used as gemstones

2. a hard, glassy mineral composed of magnesium-aluminium oxide found in metamorphosed limestones and many basic and ultrabasic igneous rocks. Formula: MgAl 2 O 4

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spinel Scientific  

/ spĭ-nĕl′ /

1. A hard, variously colored cubic mineral, having usually octahedral crystals and occurring in igneous and metamorphosed carbonate rocks. The red variety is valued as a gem and is sometimes confused with the ruby. Chemical formula: MgAl ₂ O ₄ .

2. Any of a group of minerals that are oxides of magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, or aluminum.

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Usage

What does spinel mean? Spinel is the name for a kind of mineral and a variety of the mineral that’s used as a gemstone, especially a red-colored one.The word can be used to refer to a gemstone, as in I want a ring with a spinel, or the mineral material, This is made of spinel. It’s sometimes spelled as spinelle or spinell.Spinel can come in deep or pastel shades of red, pink, purple, blue, and black. Black spinel is rare and very valuable.The red variety is similar in tone, color, and transparency to rubies, the blue variety is similar to sapphires, and spinels are sometimes mistaken for or sold as a less expensive substitute for these more expensive gems. Some famous gemstones once thought to be rubies have actually been correctly identified as spinels.Spinel is one of the birthstones for the month of August. It is associated with the zodiac signs Leo and Virgo.Example: Most people think the stone in my ring is a ruby, but it’s actually a deep red spinel.

Etymology

Origin of spinel

1520–30; < French spinelle < Italian spinella, equivalent to spin ( a ) thorn (< Latin spīna ) + -ella -elle

Example Sentences

However, the team identifies a different class of relatively pristine asteroids that display olivine and spinel signatures as more promising mining targets.

From Science Daily • Dec. 25, 2025

The red spinel on one of the necklaces — which also converts into a tiara — acts as its own version of the black and white spiral patterns used by hypnotists, affixing the eyes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2024

The crown glitters with stones including tourmalines, white and yellow topazes, rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, peridot, zircons, spinel and aquamarines.

From Seattle Times • May 5, 2023

There’s also a platinum brooch in the form of a beetle, its body glittering with diamonds and its jaws clutching a giant 7-carat blue spinel.

From New York Times • Sep. 13, 2019

Limestone is the usual matrix of spinel, although it is more often mined in gravels resulting from the weathering of the matrix.

From A Text-Book of Precious Stones for Jewelers and the Gem-Loving Public by Wade, Frank Bertram