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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“If God give thee not only earth but heaven, that thou shouldest rule over sun, moon, and stars, and have rule over the highest of the sons of men, it would not be enough to satisfy thee, except thou hadst God himself.”
–Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment