Spinel on Calcite (#1)
Mahenge, Morogoro Region, Tanzania
1.83 cm x 1.58 cm x 1.3 cm
Here is a wonderful small specimen of Spinel crystals on Calcite from Tanzania.
Many call these *Ruby Spinel* not only due to the coloring,
but also due to the very high chromium content, which turns it the brightest red color under UV lighting.
This specimen looks a little more purple to the eye, until you back light it.
The camera lens does make them look a bit more red than the eye picks up.
This specimen contains a small cluster if spinel crystals up to 1.1 cm.
The spinel crystals have beautiful color and are transparent to translucent.
A really nice thumbnail size specimen.
