Ceylon Sapphire Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Ceylon Sapphire Inclusions

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

Secondary healed fissures in corundum are often filled with carbon dioxide, but usually in liquid form. On occasion we see it in both liquid and gaseous form. This series of four images shows liquid carbon dioxide with a gas bubble (the yellow area). As the heat of the microscope warms the specimen, the gas bubble shrinks and eventually disappears. The critical temperature at which the phase changes is 31.2°C. Solid carbon dioxide is what we know as “dry ice.” The existence of carbon dioxide inclusions in sapphire was first noted by David Brewster in 1826. He also noted the explosive nature of such inclusions, which burst at temperatures generally between 250–400°C.
Secondary healed fissures in corundum are often filled with carbon dioxide, but usually in liquid form. On occasion we see it in both liquid and gaseous form. This series of four images shows liquid carbon dioxide with a gas bubble (the yellow area). As the heat of the microscope warms the specimen, the gas bubble shrinks and eventually disappears. The critical temperature at which the phase changes is 31.2°C. Solid carbon dioxide is what we know as “dry ice.” The existence of carbon dioxide inclusions in sapphire was first noted by David Brewster in 1826. He also noted the explosive nature of such inclusions, which burst at temperatures generally between 250–400°C.
Secondary healed fissures in corundum are often filled with carbon dioxide, but usually in liquid form. On occasion we see it in both liquid and gaseous form. This series of four images shows liquid carbon dioxide with a gas bubble (the yellow area). As the heat of the microscope warms the specimen, the gas bubble shrinks and eventually disappears. The critical temperature at which the phase changes is 31.2°C. Solid carbon dioxide is what we know as “dry ice.” The existence of carbon dioxide inclusions in sapphire was first noted by David Brewster in 1826. He also noted the explosive nature of such inclusions, which burst at temperatures generally between 250–400°C.
Secondary healed fissures in corundum are often filled with carbon dioxide, but usually in liquid form. On occasion we see it in both liquid and gaseous form. This series of four images shows liquid carbon dioxide with a gas bubble (the yellow area). As the heat of the microscope warms the specimen, the gas bubble shrinks and eventually disappears. The critical temperature at which the phase changes is 31.2°C. Solid carbon dioxide is what we know as “dry ice.” The existence of carbon dioxide inclusions in sapphire was first noted by David Brewster in 1826. He also noted the explosive nature of such inclusions, which burst at temperatures generally between 250–400°C.
A small black crystal peeks out from inside a negative crystal where it is held inside a Sri Lankan sapphire.
Undissolved rutile silk intersects under the table of this untreated Sri Lanka sapphire.
Undissolved rutile silk intersects under the table of this untreated Sri Lanka sapphire.
This wound in a sapphire from Sri Lanka has metamorphosed over time into the spectacularly iridescent fingerprint inclusion we see here. Such healed fissures display evidence of the underlying atomic symmetry.
A negative crystal, cut through on the surface, is surrounded by a fingerprint “halo.”
Ancient fluids trapped in a healed fissure within a Sri Lankan sapphire. Some time after the crystal grew a fissure developed. Later fluids dissolved the walls of the fissure and redeposited corundum, healing the fissure closed. Sri Lankan sapphires often display the most beautiful examples in the sapphire world.
A secondary healed fissure in a Sri Lankan sapphire. When viewed with oblique overhead illumination, it lights up with brilliant iridescence.
This green crystal has but cut through on the surface of its sapphire host.

Ceylon 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 Sri Lankan origin.

Ceylon Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs

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

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Ceylon 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 Sri Lankan origin.

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