Madagascar Sapphire Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Madagascar Sapphire Inclusions

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

Dense, angular clouds of fine particles cut a striking figure in this heated blue sapphire.
The high temperature that this blue sapphire from Madagascar was exposed to during beryllium diffusion treatment melted part of the girdle of the stone. Also, in the lower right corner of the photo is the tiny ablation spot that the LIBS created in order to detect the beryllium.
The rose channels in this Madagascar blue sapphire have melted and begun to “neck down” due to the high temperature it was exposed to during beryllium diffusion treatment.
This teardrop-shaped anorthite feldspar crystal was found in a sapphire from Madagascar. The same stone also contained orange crystals of baddeleyite.
These two elongated zircon crystals appear to float above the deep blue color zones of this sapphire from Madagascar. The microfissures surrounding the crystals are a result of radiation from the thorium and uranium traces in the zircon.
This sapphire contains fine, milky texture clouds that create a “velvety” glow.
Cupid’s arrow. An arrow-shaped inclusion pierces the heart of this pink sapphire.
A chalky, angular appearance is apparent when this sapphire is viewed in shortwave UV illumination.
This heat-treated blue sapphire from Madagascar showed unusual features just below the surface. Note the series of bubbly fingerprints and at the center a cavity featuring two frozen bubbles.
Confetti-like platelets and fine, unbroken needles can be viewed in this untreated sapphire.
This untreated sapphire contains a cluster of small, transparent crystals appears to float amidst a cloud of fine silk needles.
In the “We thought we had seen it all” department, this unusual inclusion was found on the polished girdle of an untreated Madagascar sapphire. We believe it to be made up of growth marks on the surface of the original sapphire crystal.

Madagascar 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 Madagascar origin.

Madagascar Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs

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

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Madagascar 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 Madagascar origin.

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

Search the Complete Hyperion Database