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.
Four titanium lattice-diffused sapphires surround a natural untreated sapphire. The characteristic dark girdles and highlighted facet junctions of the lattice-diffused sapphires are readily apparent.
Natural Sapphire •
USA (Montana); Rock Creek •
Enhancements:
Heat + Diffusion of external coloring agents (H-D) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Immersion
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
R-001-3027-1
Hughes, R.W. (1991) There's a rumble in the jungle: The sapphire face-lift face-off. Gemological Digest, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 17-31, RWHL*.
Kane, R.E., Kammerling, R.C. et al. (1990) The identification of blue diffusion-treated sapphires. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 26, No. 2, Summer, pp. 115–133; RWHL*.
This Burmese sapphire was diffused with titanium to induce both a blue color and a star. The rutile silk in such a diffused star occurs in extremely short needles in a shallow layer at and just below the surface.
Natural Star Sapphire •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok •
Enhancements:
Heat + Diffusion of external coloring agents (H-D) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Overhead
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
R-001-3154-2
Hughes, R.W. (1991) There's a rumble in the jungle: The sapphire face-lift face-off. Gemological Digest, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 17-31, RWHL*.
Kane, R.E., Kammerling, R.C. et al. (1990) The identification of blue diffusion-treated sapphires. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 26, No. 2, Summer, pp. 115–133; RWHL*.
This Burmese sapphire was diffused with titanium to induce both a blue color and a star. One can see bleeding of blue color into both surface openings and heavy heat alteration of fingerprints, creating a “drippy” appearance.
Natural Star Sapphire •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok •
Enhancements:
Heat + Diffusion of external coloring agents (H-D) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
R-001-3154-1
Hughes, R.W. (1991) There's a rumble in the jungle: The sapphire face-lift face-off. Gemological Digest, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 17-31, RWHL*.
Kane, R.E., Kammerling, R.C. et al. (1990) The identification of blue diffusion-treated sapphires. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 26, No. 2, Summer, pp. 115–133; RWHL*.
A melted crystal surrounded by an unusual bronze discoid with a glassy surface. This shiny, glassy appearance provides evidence that the stone was heated.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-3103-1
Crowningshield, R. and Nassau, K. (1981) The heat and diffusion treatment of natural and synthetic sapphires. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 17, No. 8, Oct., pp. 528–541; RWHL*.
Nassau, K. (1981) Heat treating ruby and sapphire: Technical aspects. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 121–131; RWHL*.
A rocket-shaped crystal takes flight within this sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-3089-2
Hughes, R.W. (1997) Ruby & Sapphire. Boulder, CO, RWH Publishing, 512 pp.; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 672 pp.; RWHL*.
A large birefringent missile takes flight within this sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-3089-1
Hughes, R.W. (1997) Ruby & Sapphire. Boulder, CO, RWH Publishing, 512 pp.; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 672 pp.; RWHL*.
Negative crystals in sapphires from Sri Lanka frequently contain trapped daughter crystals within their liquid carbon dioxide fillings. Hexagonal graphite flakes are common, as are slender diaspore needles. In this image, the stone is examined between parallel polars and as it is turned, the tiny diaspore needles become iridescent, thus demonstrating their doubly refractive solid nature.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Parallel Polars
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-3085-1
Koivula, J.I. (1986) Carbon dioxide fluid inclusions as proof of natural-colored corundum. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 152–155; RWHL*.
752 Total Images
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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.
