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 lovely thin film inclusion is seen in reflected light within this untreated ruby from the Thai/Cambodian border mines. The hexagonal healing pattern betrays the fact that this inclusion lies in the plane of the basal pinacoid.
Dark orange primary rutile crystals are seen against a backdrop of smaller rounded zircon crystals. This combination rules out Mozambique as an origin, thus showing that this ruby is from Ambodivoahangy, Madagascar. The undamaged nature of the zircons also tells us the stone has not been heat-treated at a high temperature.
This platelet in a Mozambique ruby shows clear signs of heat treatment. Note the spotted, mottled appearance where the platelet has begun to break down.
In Mozambique rubies, rutile silk typically occurs in different forms, and here we can see two. At left is a zoned cloud of fine particles, while on the right, well developed needles are seen.
The elongated, melted droplets are part of a flux-healed fingerprint in a flux-heated ruby.
This mica crystal has a glassy tension fissure surrounding it, providing evidence that the stone was heated.
In the foreground you can see flattened gas bubbles in a fissure, while in the background you can see blue flashes of color, both indicators that this ruby is lead glass filled.
Flattened gas bubbles in a glass-filled fissure in a lead glass filled ruby.
Thin film inclusions in the basal plane of a Thai/Cambodian ruby.
Thin film inclusions in the basal plane of a Thai/Cambodian ruby.
Thin film inclusions in the basal plane of a Thai/Cambodian ruby.
A melted crystal and surrounding fingerprint form a "Saturn inclusion" in this heated ruby from the Thai/Cambodian border. Thin films are also seen in the background and lie in the plane of the basal pinacoid.

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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