Treated Ruby Inclusions
Explore treated ruby inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural rubies that have undergone treatment, documented with information on geographic origin, treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.
Further evidence is found by carefully examining the mixed crystal exsolved rutile silk. Such inclusions typically unmix into two different solid phases, one highly reflective and the other of lower relief. When such crystals are heated, the lower relief crystals may begin to break down, developing irregular white patches, as one can see here, particularly in the crystal at the center left of the field of view.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-1219-3
• Field of View = 1mm
Pardieu, V., Saeseaw, S. et al. (2015) "Low temperature" heat treatment of Mozambique ruby: Results report. Gemological Institute of America, 16 April, 34 pp.; RWHL*.
A small melted crystal and associated thin film inclusion dazzle with color when lit with fiber optic illumination. Inclusions like these are typical in Thai/Cambodian ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Thailand/Cambodia •
Enhancements:
Heat + Fissure Healing (H-FH) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-1087-1
• Field of View = 2.5mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2008) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 672 pp.; RWHL*.
Iridescent fingerprint in a ruby from the Thai/Cambodian border.
Natural Ruby •
Thailand/Cambodia •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-4425-2
• Field of View = 4mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2008) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 672 pp.; RWHL*.
Rose channels in Thai/Cambodian ruby. These are often confused with rutile silk in corundum, but they are easily distinguished as they run in entirely different crystallographic directions. Rutile silk unmixes in three intersecting directions (60/120°) parallel to the faces of the hexagonal prism in the plane of the basal pinacoid (90° to the c-axis). In contrast, Rose channels form parallel to the edges of the rhombohedron, in three directions, but only two in the same place, oblique to the c-axis. They intersect at 86.1/93.9°.
Natural Ruby •
Thailand/Cambodia •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-4425-1
• Field of View = 6mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2008) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 672 pp.; RWHL*.
A chalky angular pattern, viewed here in shortwave UV illumination, is a strong sign of heat treatment. Many rubies from Mong Hsu, Myanmar, are heated to remove the blue zones that are often present in the natural material.
Natural Ruby •
Myanmar (Burma); Mong Hsu •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Ultraviolet: Shortwave
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-8110-1
Hughes, R.W. and Emmett, J.L. (2005) Heat Seeker: UV fluorescence as a gemological tool. The Guide, Vol. 24, No. 5, Part 1, Sept.–Oct., pp. 1, 4–7; RWHL*.
The oiling of gems to improve their appearance is a treatment we see with increasing frequency, particularly with gems originating in Myanmar. Here is a Mogok ruby that shows oil leaking from the fissures following a few minutes contact with the hot point.
Natural Ruby •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
Fissure Filling with colorless Oil/resin (FF-O2); No indications of heating (No indications of heating) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Overhead + Dark Field
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-8626-1
• Field of View = 10mm
Lotus Gemology (2015) Lotus Gemology Lab Alert for Oiled Gems. Bangkok, LotusGemology.com, RWHL*.
166 Total Images
Results: 25 – 36 | Page 3 of 14 Pages
Treatment can alter existing inclusions and produce new microscopic features in ruby. These may include changes to mineral inclusions, altered rutile silk, tension fractures, healed fissures, residues and other features associated with heating, fissure healing, glass filling and other treatment processes.
Treated Ruby Inclusion Photomicrographs
The Hyperion treated ruby gallery includes microscopic features documented in natural rubies subjected to treatment. Each entry identifies the recorded treatment and is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.
What Inclusions Can Reveal About Ruby Treatment
Microscopic examination is an important part of detecting treatment in ruby. The appearance and alteration of inclusions, fractures and growth features can provide evidence of treatment and, in some cases, information about the processes to which a ruby has been subjected.
Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that treatment-related features can be compared with documented examples in natural ruby.
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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