Nigerian Sapphire Inclusions
Explore Nigerian sapphire inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural sapphires from Sri Lanka (Nigerian), documented with information on treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.
This iridescent discoid around a melted crystal demonstrates that this sapphire has been heat treated.
Natural Sapphire •
Nigeria •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2821-1
Melted crystals with frozen gas bubbles litter the interior of this heated sapphire from Mambilla, Nigeria.
Natural Sapphire •
Nigeria •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2689-1
A heat-induced discoid fissure surrounding a crystal in a Nigerian sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Nigeria •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2417-2
Bad moon rising. A heat-induced discoid fissure surrounding a crystal in a Nigerian sapphire.
Natural Sapphire •
Nigeria •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2417-1
Nigeria sapphire; heated; crystal of what is probably rutile breaking the surface
Natural Sapphire •
Nigeria •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Overhead
Photographer:
Wimon Manorotkul •
Image Number:
A-001-0554-2
Hughes, R.W. (1997) Ruby & Sapphire. Boulder, CO, RWH Publishing, 512 pp.; RWHL*.
An orange rutile crystal polished through the surface of this sapphire from Nigeria.
Natural Sapphire •
Nigeria •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Wimon Manorotkul •
Image Number:
A-001-0554-1
Hughes, R.W. (1997) Ruby & Sapphire. Boulder, CO, RWH Publishing, 512 pp.; RWHL*.
CO2 bubbles in fingerprint; unheated Nigerian sapphire
Natural Sapphire •
Nigeria •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Overhead
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0561-3
This fingerprint in a Nigerian sapphire shows a network of small channels undamaged by heat treatment.
Natural Sapphire •
Nigeria •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0561-2
This fingerprint in a Nigerian sapphire displayed a brilliant iridescence when illuminated from above.
Natural Sapphire •
Nigeria •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Overhead
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0561-1
Nigerian 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 Nigerian origin.
Nigerian Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs
The Hyperion Nigerian sapphire gallery includes microscopic features documented in sapphires from Nigeria. Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.
What Inclusions Can Reveal About Nigerian 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 Nigerian origin.
Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from Nigerian 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.
