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 metallic chalcopyrite crystal shines in this untreated Mozambique ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-5564-1
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
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*.
Pardieu, V., Sangsawong, S. et al. (2013) Rubies from the Montepuez area (Mozambique). Gemological Institute of America, October 5, 84 pp.; RWHL*.
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
Emmett, J.L., Scarratt, K. et al. (2003) Beryllium diffusion of ruby and sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 39, No. 2, Summer, pp. 84–135; RWHL*.
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Hughes, R.W. (2002) The Skin Game: Orange sapphire treatment raises controversy. The Guide, Vol. 21, No. 2, Part 1, March–April, pp. 3–7; RWHL*.
In this untreated ruby from Jegdalek, Afghanistan, tiny exsolved snowflake inclusions are a welcome sight. Such inclusions are rare in ruby, but sometimes seen in blue sapphires from Kashmir (India) and Madagascar.
Natural Ruby •
Afghanistan •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-6865-1
Bowersox, G.W., Foord, E.E. et al. (2000) Ruby and sapphire from Jegdalek, Afghanistan. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 36, No. 2, Summer, pp. 110–126; RWHL*.
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
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
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*.
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
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
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
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*.
Fingerprints are simply healed fissures composed of a pattern of tiny negative crystals. In this case, we can see negative crystals that contain tiny diaspore needles, along with flat hexagonal plates of graphite. Heat treatment will damage these negative crystals and so when intact, they offer proof that the gem has not been heat treated.
Natural Ruby •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-4792-1
Eppler, W.F. (1959) The origin of healing fissures in gemstones. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 7, No. 2, April, pp. 40–66; RWHL*.
Roedder, E. (1962) Ancient fluids in crystals. Scientific American, Vol. 207, pp. 38–47; RWHL*.
Bright “rosettes” highlight the mica crystals inside this untreated Mozambique ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-4416-1
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
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 fine fissure radiates out from this crystal in a Madagascar ruby, creating a rainbow-like halo around it.
Natural Ruby •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-002-4458-2
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2015) Let it bleed: New rubies from Madagascar. Bangkok, Lotus Gemology Co. Ltd., RWHL*.
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
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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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