Detailed information
Species
Spinel, Chondrodite
Dimensions
43 x 55 x 31
mm
Weight
47 g
Locality
Luc Yen Yenbai Province Vietnam
Condition
No recorded repairs
This is a highly significant specimen from the Spinel-bearing deposits at Luc Yen, Yenbai Province, Vietnam. Why? Well, it is the combination of vibrant pink Spinel with orange Chondrodite/Clinohumite that makes such a distinctive and almost unique piece. The provenance on the label is simply Luc Yen, but this association is characteristic of Sungate mine which was worked during the 1990s. That said, I have not seen such a well-crystallized and colourful piece as this from that mine. It is certainly true that larger, and more perfectly formed Spinel crystals have been found at Luc Yen in general, but in white marble and not in combination with orange Chondrodite/Clinohumite. Previously labelled as with Rutile, there might well be small black needles of Rutile present too, but the presence of well-crystallized Chondrodite/Clinohumite needs to be highlighted here due to its rarity in crystals worldwide. A really choice miniature from the Luc Yen gemstone deposits.
