{ Spi*nel" (?), Spi*nelle" (?), }
n. [F. spinelle, or LL. spinellus,
perhaps from L. spina a thorn, a prickle, in allusion to its
pointed crystals.] (Min.) A mineral occuring in
octahedrons of great hardness and various colors, as red, green, blue,
brown, and black, the red variety being the gem spinel ruby. It
consist essentially of alumina and magnesia, but commonly contains
iron and sometimes also chromium.
&fist; The spinel group includes spinel proper, also
magnetite, chromite, franklinite, gahnite, etc., all of which may be
regarded as composed of a sesquioxide and a protoxide in equal
proportions.
{ Spi*nel" (?), Spi*nelle" (?), }
n. [F. spinelle, or LL. spinellus,
perhaps from L. spina a thorn, a prickle, in allusion to its
pointed crystals.] (Min.) A mineral occuring in
octahedrons of great hardness and various colors, as red, green, blue,
brown, and black, the red variety being the gem spinel ruby. It
consist essentially of alumina and magnesia, but commonly contains
iron and sometimes also chromium.
&fist; The spinel group includes spinel proper, also
magnetite, chromite, franklinite, gahnite, etc., all of which may be
regarded as composed of a sesquioxide and a protoxide in equal
proportions.