Spinel is a member of the oxide
family. It is mined from igneous and limestone rocks. As expected, the primary deposits
are located in Afghanistan, Vietnam, Madagascar, Burma, and Tanzania. Wherever a Spinel
deposit is discovered, a Ruby deposit is almost certain to be nearby. The stone is
referred to in Burma as "anyan nat thwe," which translates as "crafted by the spirits."
The stone is hard on the Mohs scale, with a hardness of 8.