Ruby Spinel on Calcite

Item Description

It has been next to impossible to obtain fine quality Spinel specimens from Burma these days it seems. Matrix specimens of Spinel are uncommon, but to find gem quality crystals on matrix is extremely difficult. This piece hosts a few classic Burmese "Ruby Spinel" crystals with fairly sharp, defined, lustrous, octahedral faces and a gemmy rich red color. The crystals sit atop a matrix of massive white Calcite as is typical for this locality. The piece is showy and aesthetic, and certainly not easily replaced in this market. This piece was mined around 2000, and we haven't seen many more of them in recent years. The best of these specimens are simply the finest in the world for what they are. This is an example of a non-pegmatite gem mineral for which many collectors probably do have a good specimen in their collections.