Burmese Sapphire Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Burmese Sapphire Inclusions

Explore Burmese sapphire inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural sapphires from Myanmar (Burma), documented with information on treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.

A beautiful iridescent rosette pattern appeared around this crystal when illuminated with fiber optic light. The crystal in the center is likely mica.
Stairway to heaven. Elongated apatite crystals, identified with micro Raman, extend across this dramatic inclusion scene in an untreated sapphire.
Undissolved rutile “silk” needles, as pictured here, are a hallmark of rubies from Myanmar’s Mogok region.
Undissolved rutile “silk” needles, as pictured here, are a hallmark of rubies from Myanmar’s Mogok region.
Undissolved rutile silk needles, as seen here, provide evidence that their host sapphire has not been heated at high temperatures.
When we were testing this blue sapphire, the yellow crystal pictured here stood out immediately. Analysis with micro Raman revealed that it is phlogopite mica.
A brown phlogopite crystal (identified with micro Raman) is present inside this blue sapphire.
After analysis with Raman, we were able to confirm the identity of this pair of crystals as hydroxylapatite.
A rounded zircon crystal is cut through in this untreated sapphire from Myanmar (Burma). Its identity was confirmed with micro Raman.
Burmese sapphires from the Mogok Stone Tract often contain fissures with a characteristic dendrite-like healing pattern such as that exhibited here. Such features represent subtle clues regarding their origin.
Burmese sapphires from the Mogok Stone Tract often contain fissures with a characteristic dendrite-like healing pattern such as that exhibited here. Such features represent subtle clues regarding their origin.
A tiny black crystal was cut through on the surface of this sapphire, Raman spectroscopy identified it as likely being pyrochlore.

Burmese sapphire inclusions may include mineral crystals, rutile silk, healed fissures, fluid inclusions, negative crystals, growth features and other internal features formed during or after crystal growth. Such features are important to gemologists because they can provide evidence useful in identifying sapphire and evaluating a possible Burmese origin.

Burmese Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs

The Hyperion Burmese sapphire gallery includes microscopic features documented in sapphires from Myanmar (Burma). Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Burmese Sapphire

Inclusions are an important part of geographic origin determination in sapphire. Their form, composition, orientation and associations can provide evidence that, when considered together with other gemological properties, may support or contradict a Burmese origin.

Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from Burmese sapphires.

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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