Sapphire Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Sapphire Inclusions

Explore sapphire inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural sapphire, documented with information on geographic origin, treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.

A tiny crystal and streamer appears to dive into an azure sapphire sea.
A clear hexagonal growth pattern forms shimmering angular zones in this sapphire from New South Wales, Australia. Specimen courtesy of Terrence Coldham.
Orange crystals seem to float against a midnight blue sky, with angular growth zoning visible in the background, in this sapphire from New South Wales, Australia. Specimen courtesy of Terrence Coldham.
A small crystal with a comet tail appears to fly across this untreated sapphire from New South Wales, Australia. Specimen courtesy of Terrence Coldham.
Streamers of small particles cross a sharp angular zoning pattern in this vivd blue sapphire from Madagascar.
Extremely sharp angular zoning, as seen here, is a common inclusion in Madagascar sapphire.
This green crystal has but cut through on the surface of its sapphire host.
This elongated cavity is starting to show the signs of melting as a result of heat treatment as the edge become rounded.
Zircon crystals are a common inclusion in Madagascar sapphires like this one.
When a crystal grows, surface irregularities may create conditions where fluids can be trapped, as we can see in these iridescent thin films in a sapphire from Myanmar’s Mogok Stone Tract. They all reflect light at the same time because their crystal faces are in an identical orientation.
A feathery fingerprint with bright orange staining sweeps across a vivid blue backdrop in this sapphire.
Tiny melted crystals and heat-altered fingerprints suggest that this sapphire has undergone heat treatment.

Sapphire inclusions may include mineral crystals, rutile silk, healed fissures, fluid inclusions, negative crystals, color zoning and other features formed during or after crystal growth. Such features are important to gemologists because they can provide evidence useful in identifying sapphire, understanding its geological history, recognizing treatment and, in some cases, determining geographic origin.

Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs

The Hyperion sapphire gallery includes microscopic features found in sapphires from major deposits around the world. Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Sapphire

Inclusions are an important part of sapphire identification. Their form, composition, orientation and alteration can help gemologists distinguish natural sapphire from synthetic material, recognize evidence of heat treatment, and study the geological environment in which the sapphire formed.

Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from known sapphire deposits.

About Hyperion

Hyperion is the Lotus Gemology searchable inclusion database. It allows users to browse gemstone inclusions by gem type, geographic origin, treatment and keyword.

Search the Complete Hyperion Database