Spinel. A mineral occurring in octahedrons of great hardness and various colors, as red, green, blue, brown, and black, the red variety being the gem spinel ruby, It consists essentially of alumina and magnesia, but commonly contains iron and sometimes also chromium. The fine specimens of spinel ruby are worth rather more than half as much as the diamond.

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“He is gracious; he shows mercy, not because we deserve mercy, but because he delights in mercy.”
–Thomas Watson, A Divine Cordial