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.

A small crystal, cut through on the surface, stood out in this ruby from Winza, Tanzania. The majority of the crystal is pargasite, while some slightly darker areas on the edges were ID’d as clinochlore with Raman spectroscopy.
An extremely low relief hexagonal crystal with small inclusions inside can be seen in this Mozambique ruby. We have not yet been able to identify this crystal.
This ruby believed to originate from the Montepuez region of Mozambique contained long crystals of a transparent, birefringent material. One was cut through on the surface. Analysis via micro Raman revealed it to be pargasite, a common guest in Mozambique rubies which come from an amphibolite schist host rock.
This ruby believed to originate from the Montepuez region of Mozambique contained long crystals of a transparent, birefringent material. One was cut through on the surface. Analysis via micro Raman revealed it to be pargasite, a common guest in Mozambique rubies which come from an amphibolite schist host rock.
Like confetti, paper-thin exsolved plates of what is probably hematite or ilmenite tumble onto one another in the basal plane of this ruby from Mozambique’s Montepuez region. The undamaged nature of these plates suggests that the gem has not been subjected to heat treatment.
In this ruby believed to originate from Mozambique’s Montepuez area, a crystal was cut through on the surface. Closer examination revealed it to be composed of several solid phases. Micro Raman revealed the largest portion (left) to be zoisite, while the lower right area was margarite mica, with areas of clinochlorite and pargasite. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported occurrence of zoisite and clinochlorite in ruby from Mozambique.
In this ruby believed to originate from Mozambique’s Montepuez area, a crystal was cut through on the surface. Closer examination revealed it to be composed of several solid phases. Micro Raman revealed the largest portion (left) to be zoisite, while the lower right area was margarite mica, with areas of clinochlorite and pargasite. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported occurrence of zoisite and clinochlorite in ruby from Mozambique.
In this ruby from Pakistan’s Batakundi mine, large transparent crystals with embedded black grains were observed. One crystal was cut through on the surface and via micro Raman analysis was found to consist of calcite (top), anorthite feldspar (center) and graphite grains.
In this ruby from Pakistan’s Batakundi mine, large transparent crystals with embedded black grains were observed. One crystal was cut through on the surface and via micro Raman analysis was found to consist of calcite (top), anorthite feldspar (center) and graphite grains.
In this ruby from Pakistan’s Batakundi mine, large transparent crystals with embedded black grains were observed. One crystal was cut through on the surface and via micro Raman analysis was found to consist of calcite, anorthite feldspar and graphite grains.
Black metallic crystals in natural Mozambique ruby, no heat.
This ruby from Mozambique’s Montepuez region showed a substance polished through on the pavilion. It was not affected by the hot point, so we performed a micro Raman analysis that showed it to be boehmite. The same substance infilled other fissures in the stone. exsolved boehmite along rhombohedral planes is one cause of parting in corundum. Boehmite can also show up in the infrared spectrum, in the form of peaks at approximately 3313 and 3089 cm-1.

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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