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.
Drippy, melty fingerprints are a hallmark of flux heated corundum.
Natural Ruby •
Not Determinable •
Enhancements:
Heat + Fissure Healing (H-FH) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-8614-1
Emmett, J.L. (1999) Fluxes and the heat treatment of ruby and sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 35, No. 3, Fall, pp. 90–92; RWHL*.
The unusual appearance and different lusters on the surface of this stone are signs that it has some glass filling.
Natural Ruby •
No Origin •
Enhancements:
() •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-7885-1
Melted crystals are surrounded by runny channels in the heat-altered fingerprints in this Thai/Cambodian ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Thailand/Cambodia •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic + Blue Filter
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-6263-1
This small melted crystal surrounded by an iridescent heat-altered fingerprint is a typical inclusion in Thai/Cambodian ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Thailand/Cambodia •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-6261-1
Stones that have been treated with beryllium diffusion often show a color rim around the edge as seen here.
Natural Ruby •
No Origin •
Enhancements:
Heat + Diffusion of external coloring agents (H-D) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Immersion
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-7547-1
Virtually all Mozambique rubies contain exsolved rutile silk. These needles consist of two connected crystals, one a titanium-rich portion of high relief (rutile) and at the broad end, a Ti-Fe “daughter” crystal (probably ilmenite) of lower relief. When such a gem is heated, the daughter portion may start to break down, resulting in a mottled appearance on the daughter platelets.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Overhead
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-5932-1
Intersecting growth tubes show a bubbly appearance as a result of high temperature heat treatment in this diffusion treated stone.
Natural Ruby •
Not Determinable •
Enhancements:
Heat + Diffusion of external coloring agents (H-D) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Blue Filter
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-5014-1
The mottled appearance of the platelets suggests this Mozambique ruby was heated.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-4887-1
Thin films such as these are a distinctive feature of Thai/Cambodian ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Thailand/Cambodia •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-4601-1
This ruby had a cavity that was filled with glass where small rounded gas bubbles can be seen.
Natural Ruby •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
(); Heat + Fissure Healing (H-FH) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-4332-1
This spall mark, an irregularity on the surface of the ruby, was a result of heat treatment.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-3729-3
When a Mozambique ruby is heated, the silk may start to break down, resulting in a mottled appearance on the platelets.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-3729-2
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.
