Natural Ruby Inclusions

Explore ruby inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural ruby, documented with information on geographic origin, treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.

Amphibole crystals like these (which were identified with micro Raman) are a common inclusion found in Mozambique ruby. This is unsurprising because these rubies grow in amphibolite. When observed with transmitted light, we can see that the amphibole crystals have a dark greenish body color. It can be helpful to use a white filter to see the color of the crystals.
Careful observation of the surface of the fissure in this ruby reveals a lower luster, providing evidence of glass filling.
Both the cavity and its associated fissures on the edge of this ruby display a lower luster than the surrounding corundum, providing evidence that the stone has been glass filled.
The flattened gas bubbles in this fissure provide evidence that this ruby has been filled with glass.
A glass filled cavity is visible on the surface of this ruby. The rounded indentation is an area where a gas bubble was cut through.
Zircon crystals like the ones captured here (ID confirmed with Raman spectroscopy) are a common feature in rubies from Madagascar.
Nests of rutile silk needles, as depicted here, are a common inclusion in rubies from Myanmar’s Mogok stone tract.
A fine sprinkling of silk in particles and tiny needles can be spotted across this ruby from Tajikistan.
This ruby from Tajikistan contains many small crystals surrounded by rosette-like accretion halos.
A metallic crystal that is likely hematite stands out in this untreated ruby.
When we spotted the varying lusters on this crystal cut through on the surface of a ruby, we hypothesized that it was of mixed composition. Micro raman confirmed that the higher luster area is chromite, the area of medium luster on the left is kyanite, and the lowest luster area at the bottom is pargasite.
This ruby contained several small opaque crystals. The one pictured here was cut through on the surface, revealing a metallic luster. Raman spectroscopy identified it has hematite.

Natural ruby inclusions may include mineral crystals, rutile silk, healed fissures, fluid inclusions, negative crystals, color zoning and other features formed during or after crystal growth. Such features are important to gemologists because they can provide evidence useful in identifying ruby, understanding its geological history, recognizing treatment and, in some cases, determining geographic origin.

Natural Ruby Inclusion Photomicrographs

The Hyperion natural ruby gallery includes microscopic features found in rubies from major deposits around the world. Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Natural Ruby

Inclusions are an important part of ruby identification. Their form, composition, orientation and alteration can help gemologists distinguish natural ruby from synthetic material, recognize evidence of heat treatment, and study the geological environment in which the ruby formed.

Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from known ruby deposits.

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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