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.
Like twigs, small prisms of primary rutile lie trapped within this untreated ruby from Ambodivoahangy, Madagascar.
Natural Ruby •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2158-1
A thin plate of mica is trapped in this untreated ruby from Ambodivoahangy, Madagascar.
Natural Ruby •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2125-2
A mica crystal floats agains a backdrop of rounded zircon grains in this untreated ruby from Ambodivoahangy, Madagascar.
Natural Ruby •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2125-1
Tiny crystal grains of what appear to be zircon or xenotime in a ruby from Madagascar’s Ambodivoahangy region.
Natural Ruby •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2149-2
Amphibole rods, along with rutile silk and exsolved particles in a ruby from Madagascar’s Ambodivoahangy region.
Natural Ruby •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2149-1
Amphibole rods in an untreated ruby from Ambodivoahangy, Madagascar.
Natural Ruby •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2145-1
A transparent crystal within a ruby from Mozambique’s Montepuez mines.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Shadowing
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2006-1
Rosette inclusion surrounding a mica crystal in an unheated Mozambique ruby, seen in transmitted light.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2005-3
Rosette inclusion surrounding a mica crystal in an unheated Mozambique ruby, seen in reflected light.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2005-2
Rosette inclusion surrounding a mica crystal in an unheated Mozambique ruby, seen in reflected light.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-2005-1
Growth tube with epigenetic iron-oxide staining in an untreated ruby from Mozambique. Positioned along the rhombohedron edge, this superficially resembles a boehmite needle, but there is no associated twinning.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-1989-1
Tiny rounded grains of pargasite (transparent) and chromite (black) in an untreated Mozambique ruby.
Natural Ruby •
Mozambique •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-1982-2
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.
