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 dramatic series of rutile silk needles decorates the interior of this sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Wimon Manorotkul •
Image Number:
A-004-1643-1
• Field of View = 10mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Koivula, J.I. and Hughes, R.W. (2005) Following the Silk Road: Rutile in corundum. Bangkok, Lotusgemology.com, RWHL*.
The fuzzy appearance of this fingerprint suggests that its host sapphire has been subject to heat treatment.
Natural Padparadscha Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-1640-2
• Field of View = 2mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Saeseaw, S., Khowpong, C. and Vertriest, W. (2020) Low-temperature heat treatment of pink sapphires from Ilakaka, Madagascar. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 56, No. 4, Winter, pp. 448–457; RWHL.
The large, reflective fissure around this crystal, likely mica, provides evidence that this sapphire has been heated. Mica crystals are particularly sensitive to heat.
Natural Padparadscha Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-1640-1
• Field of View = 3mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Saeseaw, S., Khowpong, C. and Vertriest, W. (2020) Low-temperature heat treatment of pink sapphires from Ilakaka, Madagascar. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 56, No. 4, Winter, pp. 448–457; RWHL.
The small fissures around these zircon crystals provide evidence that the sapphire they are suspended in has been subject to heat treatment.
Natural Padparadscha Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-1639-3
• Field of View = 2mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Saeseaw, S., Khowpong, C. and Vertriest, W. (2020) Low-temperature heat treatment of pink sapphires from Ilakaka, Madagascar. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 56, No. 4, Winter, pp. 448–457; RWHL.
The frosty white surface and reflective fissure around this crystal, likely mica, suggest that this sapphire was heated.
Natural Padparadscha Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-1639-2
• Field of View = 1mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Saeseaw, S., Khowpong, C. and Vertriest, W. (2020) Low-temperature heat treatment of pink sapphires from Ilakaka, Madagascar. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 56, No. 4, Winter, pp. 448–457; RWHL.
The mottled appearance of these platelets suggests that their sapphire host was heat treated.
Natural Padparadscha Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Diffuse Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-1639-1
• Field of View = 1mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Saeseaw, S., Khowpong, C. and Vertriest, W. (2020) Low-temperature heat treatment of pink sapphires from Ilakaka, Madagascar. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 56, No. 4, Winter, pp. 448–457; RWHL.
An angular zoned chalky fluorescent patch can be easily spotted when this heat-treated sapphire is observed in shortwave illumination.
Natural Padparadscha Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Ultraviolet: Shortwave
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-1417-1
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. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Undissolved rutile “silk” needles, as pictured here, are a hallmark of rubies from Myanmar’s Mogok region.
Natural Sapphire •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Wimon Manorotkul •
Image Number:
A-004-0932-3
• Field of View = 7mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Koivula, J.I. and Hughes, R.W. (2005) Following the Silk Road: Rutile in corundum. Bangkok, Lotusgemology.com, RWHL*.
Undissolved rutile “silk” needles, as pictured here, are a hallmark of rubies from Myanmar’s Mogok region.
Natural Sapphire •
Myanmar (Burma); Mogok/Namya •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-0932-2
• Field of View = 3mm
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
Koivula, J.I. and Hughes, R.W. (2005) Following the Silk Road: Rutile in corundum. Bangkok, Lotusgemology.com, RWHL*.
A pair of yellow monazite crystals is suspended in this pink sapphire from Madagascar. These types of crystals can turn colorless when heated, providing evidence that this sample is untreated.
Natural Padparadscha Sapphire •
Madagascar •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-004-1142-1
• Field of View = 2mm
Saeseaw, S., Khowpong, C. and Vertriest, W. (2020) Low-temperature heat treatment of pink sapphires from Ilakaka, Madagascar. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 56, No. 4, Winter, pp. 448–457; RWHL.
Hughes, R.W., Manorotkul, W. and Hughes, E.B. (2017) Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok, Lotus Publishing, 816 pp.; RWHL*.
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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.
