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.
Sharp growth zoning in this ruby evokes a fiery sunset blazing through a mountain range.
Natural Ruby •
Myanmar (Burma); Mong Hsu •
Enhancements:
Heat + Fissure Healing (H-FH) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-8658-1
A melted crystal shines in a heated Thai/Cambodian ruby. These crystals begin life as solids, but are turned into glass by heat treatment. Because glass takes up less volume than a crystal, a frozen shrinkage bubble is often found in the glass. Note also the iridescence from the surrounding fingerprint, in shades of red and blue. This is because these are the two colors transmitted by ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Thailand/Cambodia •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-9448-1
Hughes, R.W. (1997) Ruby & Sapphire. Boulder, CO, RWH Publishing, 512 pp.; RWHL*.
Mica crystals shine in this unheated Mozambique ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-8012-1
Hexagonally zoned clouds of diaspore silk create a trapiche-like pattern in unheated Mong Hsu (Burma) ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Myanmar (Burma); Mong Hsu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-7839-2
Hexagonally zoned clouds of diaspore silk create a trapiche-like pattern in unheated Mong Hsu (Burma) ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Myanmar (Burma); Mong Hsu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-7839-1
These thin films on the basal plane indicate the origin of this Thai/Cambodian ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Thailand/Cambodia •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Overhead
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-7416-3
Hughes, R.W. (1997) Ruby & Sapphire. Boulder, CO, RWH Publishing, 512 pp.; RWHL*.
Unusual violet and red-orange growth zoning.
Natural Ruby •
East Africa •
Enhancements:
Heat + Fissure Healing (H-FH) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Immersion
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-6510-2
Unusual violet and red-orange growth zoning.
Natural Ruby •
East Africa •
Enhancements:
Heat + Fissure Healing (H-FH) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Immersion
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-6510-1
An irregular crystal of what is probably pargasite features embedded deep red crystals of what is probably chromite.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-5751-2
An irregular crystal of what is probably amphibole features embedded deep red crystals of unknown identity.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-5751-1
Amphibole crystals trapped in the crimson clutches of a ruby from Mozambique’s Montepuez mines.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-5573-1
Small mica crystals fly across a shocking pink backdrop in this Mozambique ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-5515-2
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.
