Burmese Spinel Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Burmese Spinel Inclusions

Explore Burmese spinel inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural spinels from Myanmar (Burma), documented with information on treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.

A transparent, birefringent crystal displays a technicolor bull’s eye pattern when viewed in crossed polars.
A transparent, birefringent crystal displays a technicolor bull’s eye pattern when viewed in crossed polars.
A transparent crystal glows with a clear polysynthetic twinning pattern inside its spinel host.
A network of coarse negative crystals forms in a fingerprint pattern in this spinel from Myanmar’s Mogok Stone Tract.
Growth zoning pattern in a Burma spinel.
Xenomorphic carbonate (probably dolomite) filling an octahedral negative crystal with oriented needles at the corners. The needles might be either mineral matter or acicular voids. Spinel host from Burma (Myanmar). 200X.
These octahedral crystals, a characteristic feature of spinel, are surrounded by accretion clouds.
Octahedron-shaped inclusions are the most common feature of spinels from all sources. In some cases they may actually be solid crystals of spinel. In other cases, they may be seen as fingerprints with tiny rows of octahedra-shaped negative crystals. In certain cases, these negative crystals may be filled with a foreign substance (such as white dolomite, yellow phlogopite or black hercynite spinel).
Unusual flat fingerprint in a red spinel.
Unusual flat fingerprint in a red spinel.
Octahedron crystal with a small tension fissure surrounding it in a spinel from Mogok, Burma. Such octahedra are a common internal feature in spinel.
Transparent birefringent crystals in spinel with "belly button" spots under crossed polars.

Burmese spinel 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 spinel and evaluating a possible Burmese origin.

Burmese Spinel Inclusion Photomicrographs

The Hyperion Burmese spinel gallery includes microscopic features documented in spinels from Myanmar (Burma). Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Burmese Spinel

Inclusions are an important part of geographic origin determination in spinel. Their form, composition and associations can provide evidence that, when considered together with other gemological properties, may support or contradict a Burmese origin.

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

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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