Australian Sapphire Inclusions
Explore Australian sapphire inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural sapphires from Australia, documented with information on treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.
A complex structure of tiny exsolved particles and milky texture clouds outline the shape of this crystal at an earlier stage in its growth. This stone is from Queensland’s Lava Plains mines. The black crystal in the center is probably columbite (a.k.a. niobite).
Natural Sapphire •
Australia •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-3513-4
Sutherland, F.L., Coenraads, R.R. et al. (2015) Corundum (sapphire) and zircon relationships, Lava Plains gem fields, NE Australia: Integrated mineralogy, geochemistry, age determination, genesis and geographical typing. Mineralogical Magazine, Vol. 79, No. 3, pp. 545–581; not seen.
Note that the fingerprint (a partially healed fracture) in this stone has hexagonal zones. This indicates that the fingerprint formed parallel to the basal pinacoid.
Natural Sapphire •
Australia •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-3513-3
Sutherland, F.L., Coenraads, R.R. et al. (2015) Corundum (sapphire) and zircon relationships, Lava Plains gem fields, NE Australia: Integrated mineralogy, geochemistry, age determination, genesis and geographical typing. Mineralogical Magazine, Vol. 79, No. 3, pp. 545–581; not seen.
A complex structure of tiny exsolved particles and milky texture clouds outline the shape of this crystal at an earlier stage in its growth. This stone is from Queensland’s Lava Plains mines.
Natural Sapphire •
Australia •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-3513-2
Sutherland, F.L., Coenraads, R.R. et al. (2015) Corundum (sapphire) and zircon relationships, Lava Plains gem fields, NE Australia: Integrated mineralogy, geochemistry, age determination, genesis and geographical typing. Mineralogical Magazine, Vol. 79, No. 3, pp. 545–581; not seen.
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Australian sapphire inclusions may include mineral crystals, 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 Australian origin.
Australian Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs
The Hyperion Australian sapphire gallery includes microscopic features documented in sapphires from Australia. Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.
What Inclusions Can Reveal About Australian 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 an Australian origin.
Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from Australian 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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