how do you tell spinel from diamond?

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how do you tell spinel from diamond?

2007-09-23 22:45:29 · 1 answers · asked by diamondlilgirl 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology

1 answers

The easisest way is to determine the hardness. Diamond is the hardest mineral (Moh's hardness 10) and will scratch corundum (hardness 9). Spinel will be softer (i think typically about hardness 8, but there are different vairieties). Spinel is usually also strongly coloured.

A more complex way would be by x-ray diffraction.

2007-09-24 10:00:21 · answer #1 · answered by Andrew 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋