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.

The appearance of a glassy area and the frosty melted crystal here provide evidence that this sapphire was heated to a high temperature. Further testing confirmed that this sapphire was beryllium diffused.
A cluster of negative crystals encapsulate a few tiny black minerals (likely graphite), small needles (likely diaspore), and a gas bubble. This negative crystals display no evidence of heat treatment.
A zoned, chalky appearance in shortwave UV illumination is a sign of heat treatment in sapphire.
Small glassy discoids embedded in a partially healed fissure provide evidence that this sapphire was heated.
A series of tiny negative crystals surround a much larger one inside this blue sapphire.
Exsolved platelets, both rounded and with elongated shapes, become visible in this sapphire when illuminated with fiber optic light.
A glassy discoid around a tiny melted crystal provides evidence that this inclusion’s sapphire host has been heated. Specimen courtesy Tristan Knowles.
Fingerprint with rectilinear healing pattern. This healing pattern of right angles indicates the fingerprint lies on or near to a prism face (parallel to the c-axis).
A “ghost” fissure in a Sri Lankan sapphire treated with high-temperature heating plus pressure (HT+P). In crossed polars, the fissure shows transparent doubly refractive crystals. These have previously been identified as corundum by Lotus gemologists using microRaman. These tiny synthetic corundum crystals form during the treatment. Nathan Renfro of the GIA was the first to notice these ghost crystals. E. Billie Hughes of Lotus Gemology was the first to identify them. FoV=4 mm.
A “ghost” fissure in a Sri Lankan sapphire treated with high-temperature heating plus pressure (HT+P). In parallel polars, the fissure shows transparent doubly refractive crystals. These have previously been identified as corundum by Lotus gemologists using microRaman. These tiny synthetic corundum crystals form during the treatment. FoV=4 mm.
A “ghost” fissure in a Sri Lankan sapphire treated with high-temperature heating plus pressure (HT+P). In light field illumination, the fissure shows low-relief crystals. FoV=4 mm.
These included hexagonal crystals have inclusions of their own. These are actually sapphire inclusions in sapphire, as shown by their extremely low relief.

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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