Spinel

Spinel from Luc Yen comes from one of the best-known modern gemstone districts in Vietnam. Ruby, sapphire, and spinel were discovered here in 1987, and the discovery turned Luc Yen into an important center for Vietnamese gems. The area has produced spinel in a wide range of colors, including red, pink, purple, sea-blue, and bright sky-blue.

What makes Luc Yen especially interesting to collectors is that the spinel occurs both in the local marble and in the gravel deposits around it. Some crystals are found as sharp octahedra in the marble, while water and weathering have concentrated more transparent crystals in the surrounding placers.