Etch marks of the surface of a natural (in the left portion of the photo), along with a fingerprint inclusion within the gem itself (right side of the photo). Note the identical pattern of the etch marks and the negative crystals within the fingerprint, both reflections of the underlying atomic symmetry.
Natural Sapphire • Myanmar (Burma); Mogok • Enhancements: None Detected (None) • Lighting Conditions: Dark Field
Photographer: E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number: A-001-5334-4 • Date Posted: 28 March 2016
Eppler, W.F. (1959) The origin of healing fissures in gemstones. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 7, No. 2, April, pp. 40–66; RWHL*.
Eppler, W.F. (1966) The origin of negative crystals in gemstones. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 10, No. 2, April, pp. 49–56; RWHL*.