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.

The vast majority of Mong Hsu rubies are heated with fluxes to heal their fissures. This is a rare example of a fingerprint in an Mong Hsu ruby that has not been heated. Note the angular nature of the negative crystals and the two-phase fillings.
A lovely rosette inclusion surrounds a mica crystal in this ruby from Mozambique’s Montepuez region. This “rosette” actually consists of negative crystals flattened in the plane of basal pinacoid (perpendicular to the c axis).
A lovely rosette inclusion surrounds a mica crystal in this ruby from Mozambique’s Montepuez region. This “rosette” actually consists of negative crystals flattened in the plane of basal pinacoid (perpendicular to the c axis).
Tajik rubies often display well-healed fissures with coarse negative crystals, such as that seen here.
Tajik rubies often display well-healed fissures with coarse negative crystals, such as that seen here.
Tajik rubies often display well-healed fissures with coarse negative crystals, such as that seen here.
Unusual negative crystal with black flakes adhering to it in a ruby from Tajikistan’s Snijnie mines.
Unusual negative crystal with black flakes adhering to it in a ruby from Tajikistan’s Snijnie mines.
One of the hallmarks of Tajik rubies are these flat negative crystals with accretion halos.
The fact that this hot pink ruby from Mozambique owes some of its beauty to artificial heat treatment is betrayed by the spall marks on a small natural on the pavilion. Like drops of frozen water, they cannot be scraped off with a dental pick, thus demonstrating that they are the result of heat treatment.
A lovely “rosette” inclusion lights up the interior of this ruby from Montepuez, Mozambique. These inclusions consist of tiny negative crystals flattened in the basal plane, and become iridescent when illuminated in reflected light.
A cordierite (Iolite) inclusion is a rare and welcome guest in this ruby from Greenland. 1.16mm long.

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.

Search the Complete Hyperion Database