Report Verification
Hyperion • Inclusion Search Engine • Lotus Gemology
Etch marks of the surface of a natural (white areas in the upper left portion of the photo), along with a fingerprint inclusion within the gem itself (right side of the photo). Note the identical pattern of the etch marks and the negative crystals within the fingerprint, both reflections of the underlying atomic symmetry.
A common feature of sapphires from Myanmar’s Mogok Stone Tract is fingerprints composed of well-formed negative crystals. The undamaged nature of the individual cavities is proof that this gem has not been subjected to high temperature heat treatment.
Heat-altered fingerprint in a heat-treated yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka. Note the small burst clouds around the fingerprint channels.
Iridescent fingerprint in a heat-treated ruby from the Thai-Cambodian border region. Note that the iridescence is mostly blue and red, because ruby absorbs the other colors of the spectrum.
When a ruby is heat-treated at a high enough temperature, the angular channels of fingerprints begin a “necking down” process where they become more rounded, as seen here. This is particularly true if fluxes are used during the treatment.
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. Overhead lighting was used to reveal the interference colors on the surface of the liquid-filled channels.
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 fingerprint explodes with iridescent color when illuminated obliquely with a fiber-optic light. The rectilinear healing pattern of this liquid inclusion reveals that it lies along a prism face (parallel to the c axis).
A prominent, intricate fingerprint pattern consisting of interconnected communication tubes extending from a mineral inclusion nucleus serves to confirm that this Sri Lankan spinel is natural. The form taken by the tubes reveals the isometric symmetry of the underlying spinel. 5X
Note that the fingerprint (a partially healed fracture) in this stone has hexagonal zones. This indicates that the fingerprint formed parallel to the basal pinacoid.
A delightful sight. This pinkish purple sapphire from Serendib features a lovely iridescent fingerprint, its structure mimicing the underlying atomic pattern of its host.
Tiny black dendrites inhabit the sticky blue world of this sapphire from Madagascar, growing amidst the small pockets of undigested fluid in a fingerprint.
Note: Lotus Gemology Co. Ltd. makes these images available to the public for educational puposes only. Each of these images is copyright Lotus Gemology and reproduction without the express written permission of Lotus Gemology is strictly prohibited. This includes posting to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blab, Splat, Slob, Glob or any other social media or website. If you would like to reuse an image, contact us.
Back to top