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.
Examining the same stone with a powerful shortwave light source shows the chalky fluorescence in a similar pattern, confirming the heat treatment.
Natural Sapphire •
Basalt Related •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Ultraviolet: Shortwave
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-3523-1
Hughes, R.W. and Emmett, J.L. (2005) Heat Seeker: UV fluorescence as a gemological tool. The Guide, Vol. 24, No. 5, Part 1, Sept.–Oct., pp. 1, 4–7; RWHL*.
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
A metallic black plate was found in this untreated Sri Lankan sapphire. Microraman analysis in Lotus Gemology’s Bangkok lab showed it to be graphite.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-3502-2
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (1986) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 1. Basel, Switzerland, ABC Edition, 532 pp.; RWHL*.
A cluster of small metallic black plates was found in this untreated Sri Lankan sapphire. Microraman analysis in Lotus Gemology’s Bangkok lab showed them to be graphite.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-3502-1
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (1986) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 1. Basel, Switzerland, ABC Edition, 532 pp.; RWHL*.
Unusual birefringent crystals in a low-relief partially healed fissure in a sapphire treated with high-temperature heat plus modest pressure (HT+P). When tested with Lotus Gemology’s microraman, they proved to be corundum. It is thought that they crystallized during the treatment process. FOV 2 mm
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-3169-1
[various authors] (2019) Squeezing Sapphire • Corundums treated with high temperatures and low pressure (HT+P)
Unusual birefringent crystals in a low-relief partially healed fissure in a sapphire treated with high-temperature heat plus modest pressure (HT+P). When tested with Lotus Gemology’s microraman, they proved to be corundum. It is thought that they crystallized during the treatment process. FOV 2 mm
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field (Transmitted Light)
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-3169-2
[various authors] (2019) Squeezing Sapphire • Corundums treated with high temperatures and low pressure (HT+P)
Unusual birefringent crystals in a low-relief partially healed fissure in a sapphire treated with high-temperature heat plus modest pressure (HT+P). When tested with Lotus Gemology’s microraman, they proved to be corundum. It is thought that they crystallized during the treatment process.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Light Field (Transmitted Light)
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-3171-2
• Field of View = 4mm
Unusual birefringent crystals in a low-relief partially healed fissure in a sapphire treated with high-temperature heat plus modest pressure (HT+P). When tested with Lotus Gemology’s microRaman, they proved to be corundum. It is thought that they crystallized during the treatment process.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-3171-1
• Field of View = 4mm
[various authors] (2019) Squeezing Sapphire • Corundums treated with high temperatures and low pressure (HT+P).
The high temperatures reached during beryllium diffusion have produced melted surfaces on a natural.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat + Diffusion of external coloring agents (H-D) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Overhead
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-3165-3
Emmett, J.L., Scarratt, K. et al. (2003) Beryllium diffusion of ruby and sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 39, No. 2, Summer, pp. 84–135; RWHL*.
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Magnification of this beryllium-diffused orange sapphire reveals small areas on the surface where corundum has melted and recrystallized. This is sometimes seen in beryllium-diffused corundums, due to the high temperatures reached during the treatment.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat + Diffusion of external coloring agents (H-D) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-3165-2
Emmett, J.L., Scarratt, K. et al. (2003) Beryllium diffusion of ruby and sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 39, No. 2, Summer, pp. 84–135; RWHL*.
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
When immersed in di-iodomethane, this orange sapphire reveals a surface-conformal color rim, exposing it as having been beryllium diffused.
Natural Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat + Diffusion of external coloring agents (H-D) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Immersion
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-003-3165-1
Emmett, J.L., Scarratt, K. et al. (2003) Beryllium diffusion of ruby and sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 39, No. 2, Summer, pp. 84–135; RWHL*.
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. et al. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
752 Total Images
Results: 229 – 240 | Page 20 of 63 Pages
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.
