Database of luminescent minerals 

SPINELLE

Chemical formula: MgAl₂O₄

Family: Oxides and hydroxides

Status: IMA-GP

Crystal system : Isometric

Display mineral: OUI

Luminescence:

Daylight picture

Spinelle, Mogok, Burma;
Photo et col.: G. Barmarin

Longwave (365nm) picture

Spinelle, Mogok, Burma; Red UVLW
Photo et col.: G. Barmarin

Pictures Galery:

  
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Phosphorescence (in the common sense of the term) observable with the naked eye:

No phosphorescence visible to the naked eye under any type of UV

Thermoluminescence: OUI

Activator(s) and spectrum:

Activator(s): Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺ ,  

Peaks in the spectrum (nm):

Cr³⁺ : lines at 676 (675), 686 (685), 698 (697), 708 (707), 712, 718 (717) nm
Mn²⁺ : broad band peaking at 550-612 nm 

Spectrum: Michael Gaft, Petah Tikva, Israel. Plot: Institute of Mineralogy, University of Vienna, Austria, with permission of the authors.

Spectrum Galery:

  
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Comments on spectrum and activators:

Activator: Cr³⁺ and possibly Mn²⁺ (broad band peaking at 612 nm or emissions bands with max from 550 to 620nm).

The fluorescence of spinel was studied as early as 1887 by De Boisbaudran who found a red glow in most specimens and some green fluorescence in a few.

Crookes plotted in 1887 the red fluorescence spectra of spinel and pointed out the particular sharp band at 685,7nm.

Nichols studied the cathodoluminescence of spinel in 1928.

Best localities for fluorescence (*):

• Mogok, Burma;
• An Phu, Lục Yên District, Yên Bái Province, Vietnam;

(*)The data are not exhaustive and are limited to a few remarkable localities for fluorescence

Bibliographic reference for luminescence:

• The Henkel Glossary of Fluorescent Minerals, Dr. Gerhard Henkel, Published by the FMS, 1989 ,
• Fluorescence: Gems and Minerals Under Ultraviolet Light, Manuel Robbins, 1994, Geoscience Press, ISBN 0-945005-13-X ,
• The World of Fluorescent Minerals, Stuart Schneider, Schiffer Publishing, 2006, ISBN 0-7643-2544-2 ,
• Luminescence Spectroscopy of Minerals and Materials, M. Gaft, R. Reisfeld, G. Panczer, Springer Editor, ISBN: 10 3-540-21918-8 ,
• Luminescent Spectra of Minerals, Boris S. Gorobets and Alexandre A. Rogojine, Moscow, 2002 ,
• Ultraviolet Light and Fluorescent Minerals, Th. Warren, S. Gleason, R. Bostwick, et E. Verbeek, 1995, ISBN 0-9635098-0-2 ,
• Luminescenza nel regno minerale, Guido Mazzoleni, fotografia Roberto Appiani, Libri Sandit, 2010, ISBN 978-88-95990-63-7 ,
• Handbook of Fluorescent Gems and Minerals, a practical guide for the gem and mineral collector, Jack de Ment, 1949 ,

Reference for luminescence on the Internet:

Mineralogical reference on the Internet:

  http://www.mindat.org/show.php?name=Spinelle

  http://webmineral.com/data/Spinelle.shtml

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