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.
Red fluorescence with zoned chalky green-superficial fluorescence in a Madagascar sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Ultraviolet: Short Wave
Photographer:
Patharaphum Sudprasert •
Image Number:
A-001-8868-1
Melted crystals surrounded by heat-altered fingerprints in a heat-treated Madagascar sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Fiber Optic
Photographer:
Patharaphum Sudprasert •
Image Number:
A-001-8832-1
Hughes, R.W. (1997) Ruby & Sapphire. Boulder, CO, RWH Publishing, 512 pp.; RWHL*.
Irregular crystals of what may be feldspar in a sapphire from Madagascar, seen between crossed polars.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer:
Patharaphum Sudprasert •
Image Number:
A-001-7868-3
Irregular crystals of what may be feldspar in a sapphire from Madagascar.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Patharaphum Sudprasert •
Image Number:
A-001-7868-2
Zoned chalky green superficial fluorescence in Madagascar sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Ultraviolet: Short Wave
Photographer:
Patharaphum Sudprasert •
Image Number:
A-001-7100-2
Zoned chalky green superficial fluorescence in Madagascar sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Ultraviolet: Short Wave
Photographer:
Patharaphum Sudprasert •
Image Number:
A-001-7100-1
C-shaped crystals with faint growth zoning in the background of this sapphire from Madagascar. Irregular crystals such as this are a common sight in Madagascar sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
Patharaphum Sudprasert •
Image Number:
A-001-6309-2
A slightly corroded crystal floats the blue sea of a Madagascar blue sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-6746-1
Kaolinite-bearing negative crystals flattened in the basal plane within a purple sapphire from Madagascar. The kaolinite aslo shows up in the infrared spectrum.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
Patharaphum Sudprasert •
Image Number:
A-001-6085-1
Cluster of small zircon crystals in an untreated purple sapphire from Madagascar. Heat treatment will cause such crystals to become cloudy and more white as the temperature increases. Such zircon crystals are one of the hallmarks of Madagascar sapphires from the central and southern part of the island.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-6115-2
These long growth tubes with glassy areas show clear signs of heat alteration.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-5414-1
A delicate fingerprint decorates the interior of this blue sapphire from Madagascar. This represents a secondary inclusion, one that formed via the healing of a fissure after the host gem had formed. Its undamaged nature demonstrates that this stone has not been subjected to high-temperature heat treatment.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Shadowing
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-5693-2
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.
