Blue Spinel: Properties, Benefits & Meanings
Blue Spinel Overview
One of the few naturally occurring gemstones, Blue Spinel is a beautiful and rare variety of Spinel. Mostly colored blue or violet, it is often faceted like a diamond. Unlike other blue gemstones like Sapphire, Blue Spinel is a naturally forming gemstone and is much more valuable than other blue gemstones.
The blue or violet coloration occurs as a result of introducing Cobalt impurity in pure Spinel. Color variations occur due to an increase or decrease in the amount of impurities.
This article details the uses, meanings, and properties of the Blue Spinel stone.
What is Blue Spinel?
Blue Spinel is a beautiful stone used in Jewelry designs the world over. It is not the best stone for jewelry making due to its softness, but it is still used ornamentally because of its eye-catching blue and violet hues.
It is believed that the Blue Spinal is an excellent stone for communication and creation. It symbolizes throat chakra and all the benefits that go along with it. Truth seekers and compassionate people often find this stone to their liking.
Spinel (Sub-type) belongs to a larger group of minerals known as spinels (super-type). The general formula for magnesium aluminate’s cubic crystal system form is MgAl2O4. A spinel stone may be clear but is usually colored red, lavender, blue, green, brown, black, or yellow.
What are some other names for Blue Spinel?
The following names are also used for Blue Spinel:
- Blue Ceylanite
- Cobalt Spinel
- Blue Stongite
- Blue Talcspinel
What is the origin of the name?
The name comprises two parts: “Blue” and “Spinel.” The “Blue” part of the name refers to the blue color of the stone. The word “Spinel” in 1779 was given by Jean Demeste from Latin “Spinella,” meaning little thorn, alluding to its sharp octahedral crystals.
Geological Occurrence
This stone is most often found in metamorphosed limestone and mudstone. However, in rare mafic rocks, it can form a primary mineral. In these igneous rocks—which are deficient in alkalis relative to aluminum and where alumina may crystallize as corundum or combine with magnesium oxide to form Spinel —aluminum oxide also occurs. This is why Spinel and ruby are often found in the exact location.
Varieties of Cobalt Spinel
There are two varieties of Blue Spinel stone depending on the particular element responsible for the color.
- Cobalt Blue Spinel: In recent years, unusual vivid pink or blue spinels have been found worldwide. These stones are called Cobalt Spinel or Cobalt Blue Spinel, and their unique color comes from exposure to cobalt during formation. The name refers to cobalt’s presence, which is responsible for the blue color.
- Gahnospinel: Gahnospinel is a variety of Spinel that contains significant amounts of zinc. The color of the gemstone ranges from light to dark blue. It has a chemical formula of (Mg, Zn)Al2O4.
Where is It found?
Cobalt Spinel stone is found in many countries worldwide, including:
Physical Properties
The physical properties of Blue Spinel are:
| Mineral Group | Spinel |
| Formula | MgAl2O4 |
| Chemical name | Magnesium Aluminum Oxide |
| Color | Blue, Violet |
| Hardness (Mohs scale) | 7.5 – 8 |
| Refractive Index | 1.735 – 1.790 |
| Transparency | Translucent to Opaque |
| Crystal System | Isometric |
| Specific Gravity | 3.65 – 4.55 |
| Optical Character | Isotropic |
Typical appearance
Blue Spinel crystallizes in the isometric system as octahedrons, often twinned. It has no cleavage, but it does have a crystalline structure that breaks along octahedral planes. It can be translucent to opaque, and it has a vitreous luster.
With its high iron content, the Sri Lankan Spinel is often darker than other varieties. This creates a blue-greyish or violet-blue color rather than the pure blue it is known for.
The darker the blue spinel stone, the more iron it contains. The best way to appreciate its color is in daylight—especially when standing with your back to the sun.
All spinel gems should be clean and free from inclusions, blue or otherwise. The rock will fetch less on the market if it has visible inclusions or markings.
Blue Spinel Value and Price
Most jewelers are unfamiliar with blue Spinel—it is so rare they never encounter it. The price of a Blue Spinel can range from 2500$ to 10,000$/Ct depending on many factors like:
- Size: The cost of a Blue Spinel stone increases as the size of the gem increases since larger stones are more difficult to find and cut than smaller ones.
- Quality: A gemstone’s number of inclusions and imperfections indicates its quality. Clarity is also crucial when evaluating the worthiness of Blue Spinel stones. A clear stone will cost more than one with many inclusions.
- Color: The color of the Blue Spinel affects its price. The more vibrant and intense the shade, the higher value it has. Also, certain shades are rarer than others, affecting overall value. For example, Darker blues with high saturation are rarer and therefore more expensive than lighter ones.
- Cut: The cut of a gemstone is just as important as its other qualities. Cut can significantly affect the value and appearance of a stone, sometimes making it worth hundreds or thousands more than similar pieces with comparable color, clarity, and carat weight.
- Location: The value of a Blue Spinel can also be affected by where it is found. For example, Vietnamese Spinel is currently considered the finest in the world.
How to tell if a Blue Spinel is genuine or not?
Synthetic Spinel can be produced by techniques similar to those used in the production of synthetic corundum, including the Verneuil method and flux methods (invented by Frenchman Edward Frémy). As a result, synthetic Blue Spinel can be used as an inexpensive alternative to natural minerals such as aquamarine, beryl, and emerald.
The following points should be noted to tell whether the Blue Spinel is real or not:
- Color: Natural Spinel should have an intense color with varying hues. If the color is consistent throughout without any variation, it may indicate that the stone has been dyed or some other treatment has been performed.
- Acetone Test: Do an acetone test. Soak in acetone for a few minutes to see if the color comes off. If it does, then it’s likely fake.
- Check for inclusions: Inclusions are natural flaws in the rock, even in natural Blue Spinel stones. If you look closely at your gemstone, you should be able to find them—small and irregularly shaped. If there aren’t any irregularities of this kind, it’s a fake.
- Check for weight: Check the weight of your Blue Spinel. If it’s too light, then it may be fake.
- Scratch Test: A genuine Spinel gemstone is very durable due to its crystal lattice. Kitchen knives shouldn’t leave a mark on hard stones with a rating of 6-7 or higher. Spinel has a Mohs hardness of 8 and does not have cleavage.
Blue Spinel Chakra Connection
Which Chakra does Blue Spinel Symbolize?
Blue Spinel symbolizes the following chakra:
- The Throat Chakra: Throat Chakra is associated with the energy of communication and creation. It’s located in the throat, right above your adam’s apple. This Chakra governs our ability to speak clearly and express ourselves honestly. If it’s imbalanced or blocked, you may struggle to express yourself verbally or communicate effectively with others.
What does Blue Spinel Symbolize?
Blue Spinel symbolizes the following:
- Truth: This stone symbolizes truth, clarity, and honesty. It teaches you to speak your mind without fear and helps you get in touch with your deepest emotions. It also encourages you to explore these feelings and share them with others.
- Harmony: This stone is a symbol of peace and balance. It helps you find the middle ground between your mind and body, allowing you to be logical and intuitive. It also lets you see how everything is connected, encouraging you to appreciate that every part of life has value.
- Empathy: This stone symbolizes empathy, compassion, and kindness. It helps you see the world through others’ eyes, teaching you to understand them and their struggles. It also encourages you to be kinder in your own life and share that compassion with others.
- Intuition: This stone is a symbol of intuition and psychic ability. It helps you connect with your inner voice to hear what it says. It also enables you to understand what is going on around you, as well as how to best go about reaching your goals.
- Dreams: This stone is a symbol of dreams and wishes. It helps you to find the courage to chase after your goals, as well as understand what they mean. It also encourages you to share those dreams with others so that they can help you reach them.
- Relationships: This stone is a symbol of relationships and love. It helps you develop strong bonds with others, making it easier for you to share your feelings with them. It also encourages honesty in communication so that misunderstandings can be avoided.
- Health: This stone is a symbol of health and well-being. It is said to help you find the strength to overcome illness or injury and recover from them more quickly. It also encourages you to eat healthy foods that will help your body function at its best.
Blue Spinel Uses
Blue Spinel has the following uses:
- Jewelry: Blue Spinel stone is often used in jewelry, especially rings. It can be set alone or with other gems to create unique and beautiful designs. It is also used to create pendants, earrings, and bracelets. It is often used in engagement rings because it symbolizes love and commitment. Both men and women can wear jewelry made with this stone.
- Meditation: Blue Spinel can be used in meditation to connect with the mind of God. It helps open your third eye and allows you to see things on a spiritual level. It aids you in seeing things as they are, without any attachments or preconceived notions. This stone can be used in meditation to connect with the mind of God. It helps open your third eye and allows you to see things on a spiritual level.
- Astrology: Blue Spinel can be used in astrology because it is associated with the planet Neptune, which rules spirituality and imagination. It can be used to connect with the divine and to see things from a higher perspective. It is also said that it helps you to see beyond the illusion of reality into the true nature of items.
- Oration: Blue Spinel is associated with the throat chakra, which governs communication. It is said that this stone helps you speak your truth without fear or hesitation. It also allows you to become more open-minded and better listen to others’ opinions without judgment or bias. Some say that it can help you speak in a way that is easy for others to understand. It is said to be an excellent crystal for teachers, writers, and performers because it helps them to communicate their ideas.
- Awareness: Blue Spinel is also said to help you become more aware of your body, allowing you to feel it more deeply. It can aid you in better understanding how your emotions affect your physical health, which in turn helps you make better decisions about what foods will make you feel good or bad.
- Courage: Blue Spinel is a stone of inner strength and courage. It can help you handle difficult situations with grace and love, even when it feels like the world has turned against you. This crystal will also help open up your heart chakra, making you feel more connected to others.
How to clean Blue Spinel Jewelry?
Here are some steps to help your Blue Spinel jewelry retain its beauty.
- One of the easiest ways to cleanse your Blue Spinel is by running it under a gentle stream of cool water.
- Soak the stained area in warm water and scrub it gently with a soft toothbrush until all traces of the stain have disappeared.
- Wipe the crystal with a microfiber cloth until it shines.
- Cleanse it using burning sage to remove any negativity absorbed, which can negatively impact the surroundings. There is no one perfect way to cleanse your stone. You can experiment with smudging it in sage smoke or using a tuning fork. But whatever you do, remember that there’s no right way—do what feels good for you on any given day!
- There are various ways to recharge your amulet, including immersing it in moonlight or burying it underground. Give it at least six hours, but overnight is ideal.
Blue Spinel should be protected from harsh chemicals and extreme heat, which could damage it.
Although most ultrasonic cleaners and steamers are safe, some precautions should be taken. For example, it’s best to keep Blue Spinel jewelry apart from other pieces when storing them together.
FAQ
Is Blue Spinel expensive?
Cobalt blue Spinel is an extremely rare color variety of the mineral, and specimens over 1 carat are extremely expensive. The cost of a Blue Spinel, starting at $2000-3000 per carat, can exceed ten grand for large pieces like this cuttable stone.
What are other gemstones compatible with Blue Spinel?
The best way to wear Spinel is with other gemstones. Some popular options include Amethyst, Sapphire, and Garnet. It goes particularly well with Blue gemstones like Blue Sapphire, Aquamarine, Tanzanite, etc. This is because their properties create a resonance effect. Blue gemstones connect to the upper Chakras and relate to spirituality, calmness, and higher beings.
If you’re looking for something more unique, try combining your Spinel with black onyx or blue opal for an eye-catching effect. It also goes well with other varieties of Spinel, like pink Spinel, Red Spinel, and Black Spinel.
