Sapphire Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Sapphire Inclusions

Explore sapphire inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural sapphire, documented with information on geographic origin, treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.

A cluster of negative crystals encapsulate a few tiny black minerals (likely graphite), small needles (likely diaspore), and a gas bubble. This negative crystals display no evidence of heat treatment.
A euhedral apatite crystal cuts a sharp figure in an untreated padparadscha sapphire.
A small fingerprint in a beryllium diffused sapphire. Diffused stones are heat treated at a high temperature.
The appearance of a glassy area and the frosty melted crystal here provide evidence that this sapphire was heated to a high temperature. Further testing confirmed that this sapphire was beryllium diffused.
When examined between crossed polars two twin planes can be easily spotted in this sapphire.
Shiny, glassy discoids and frosted crystals display clear evidence that this sapphire was heated.
A transparent brown phlogopite mica crystal is nestled within this untreated sapphire. Mica is an inclusion commonly found in sapphires from a variety of origins.
A zoned, chalky appearance in shortwave UV illumination is a sign of heat treatment in sapphire.
Small glassy discoids embedded in a partially healed fissure provide evidence that this sapphire was heated.
A series of tiny negative crystals surround a much larger one inside this blue sapphire.
Fingerprint with rectilinear healing pattern. This healing pattern of right angles indicates the fingerprint lies on or near to a prism face (parallel to the c-axis).
Exsolved platelets, both rounded and with elongated shapes, become visible in this sapphire when illuminated with fiber optic light.

Search the Complete Hyperion Database

Sapphire 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 sapphire, understanding its geological history, recognizing treatment and, in some cases, determining geographic origin.

Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs

The Hyperion sapphire gallery includes microscopic features found in sapphires 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 Sapphire

Inclusions are an important part of sapphire identification. Their form, composition, orientation and alteration can help gemologists distinguish natural sapphire from synthetic material, recognize evidence of heat treatment, and study the geological environment in which the sapphire formed.

Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from known sapphire 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.