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.
“Bubbly” melted crystals in a heat-treated sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0728-2
Crowningshield, R. and Nassau, K. (1981) The heat and diffusion treatment of natural and synthetic sapphires. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 17, No. 8, Oct., pp. 528–541; RWHL*.
Nassau, K. (1981) Heat treating ruby and sapphire: Technical aspects. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 121–131; RWHL*.
Yellow sapphires from Sri Lanka do not normally contain rutile silk, which is why yellow star sapphires are so rare. Instead they contain tiny, magnesium-bearing particles exsolved in the same pattern as rutile. Care must be taken not to confuse these natural inclusions with the partially-dissolved silk of heat-treated stones.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0722-1
Koivula, J.I. (1987) Internal diffusion. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 20, No. 7/8, pp. 474–477; RWHL*.
Fingerprints betray the underlying atomic symmetry. In this case, this iridescent fingerprint lies along a prism face, as demonstrated by its rectilinear form.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0708-1
Roedder, E. (1962) Ancient fluids in crystals. Scientific American, Vol. 207, pp. 38–47; RWHL*.
Eppler, W.F. (1959) The origin of healing fissures in gemstones. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 7, No. 2, April, pp. 40–66; RWHL*.
Small crystal plates against a backdrop of exsolved silk in this Sri Lankan sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0660-2
Gübelin, E.J. (1973) Internal World of Gemstones. Zürich, ABC Verlag, reprinted 1983, 234 pp.; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 672 pp.; RWHL*.
A thin crystal plate alongside a brown crystal of what is probably phlogopite mica enhance the interior of this sapphire from Serendib.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0660-1
Gübelin, E.J. (1973) Internal World of Gemstones. Zürich, ABC Verlag, reprinted 1983, 234 pp.; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 672 pp.; RWHL*.
Iron-rich silk, in the form of exsolved plates within a sapphire from Tanzania’s Umba Valley.
Natural Sapphire •
Tanzania; Umba Valley •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Overhead
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0664-3
Hänni, H.A. (1987) On corundums from Umba Valley, Tanzania. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 20, No. 5, January, pp. 278–284; RWHL*.
Zwaan, P.C. (1974) Garnet, corundum, and other gem minerals from Umba, Tanzania. Scripta Geologica, Vol. 20, pp. 19–30; RWHL*.
Iridescent needles within a sapphire from Tanzania’s Umba Valley.
Natural Sapphire •
Tanzania; Umba Valley •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Overhead
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0664-2
Hänni, H.A. (1987) On corundums from Umba Valley, Tanzania. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 20, No. 5, January, pp. 278–284; RWHL*.
Zwaan, P.C. (1974) Garnet, corundum, and other gem minerals from Umba, Tanzania. Scripta Geologica, Vol. 20, pp. 19–30; RWHL*.
An iridescent fissure in a sapphire from Tanzania’s Umba Valley.
Natural Sapphire •
Tanzania; Umba Valley •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Overhead
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0664-1
Hänni, H.A. (1987) On corundums from Umba Valley, Tanzania. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 20, No. 5, January, pp. 278–284; RWHL*.
Zwaan, P.C. (1974) Garnet, corundum, and other gem minerals from Umba, Tanzania. Scripta Geologica, Vol. 20, pp. 19–30; RWHL*.
678 Total Images
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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.
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