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.
Streamers of small particles cross a sharp angular zoning pattern in this vivd blue sapphire from Madagascar.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-3280-2
Extremely sharp angular zoning, as seen here, is a common inclusion in Madagascar sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-3275-1
Zircon crystals are a common inclusion in Madagascar sapphires like this one.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-3230-1
A feathery fingerprint with bright orange staining sweeps across a vivid blue backdrop in this sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-3094-1
Tiny melted crystals and heat-altered fingerprints suggest that this sapphire has undergone heat treatment.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-2565-1
A string of negative crystals decorates the interior of this untreated sapphire. Negative crystals can be identified by the fact that similar faces will all reflect light at exactly the same time.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-0743-1
A glassy discoid around this mica crystals suggests that its pink sapphire host was heat treated.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-1531-1
These green crystals were cut through on the surface of this untreated sapphire from Madagascar.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-8388-2
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Fingerprint (viewed perpendicular to the fingerprint plane) in an unheated Madagascar sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-7435-2
Triangular growth zoning in a Madagascar sapphire. Milky regions contrasting with deep blue zones are common in Madagascar sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
Patharaphum Sudprasert •
Image Number:
A-001-9419-1
An arrow points the way. This fingerprint creates an arrow pattern decorating an unheated Madagascar sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-8448-1
Extremely strong hexagonal growth zoning typically seen in Madagascar sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
Patharaphum Sudprasert •
Image Number:
A-001-9194-1
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.
