Emerald Inclusions
Explore emerald inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural emerald, documented with information on geographic origin, treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.
Numerous transparent brown crystals, likely mica, are clustered in this Zambian emerald. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Oblique Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7169-1
• Field of View = 1.6mm
Brown tinted mica crystals like these (which were identified with micro Raman) are a commonly found inclusion in Zambian emeralds. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Diffuse Fiber Optic
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7167-1
• Field of View = 1.6mm
Brown, platey mica crystals and long, needle-like tremolite crystals (both identified with micro Raman) are present in this inclusion scene in a Zambian emerald. There are also several small two phase inclusions. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field (Transmitted Light)
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7164-2
• Field of View = 2mm
A mixture of crystals can be seen in this Zambian emerald. Micro Raman revealed that the elongated needles are tremolite, while the brown crystals are mica. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7163-1
• Field of View = 1.6mm
Blocky, elongated two phase inclusions appear to rain down in this emerald from Zambia. Upon careful inspection, carbon dioxide bubbles can be seen in these cavities. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field + Blue Filter
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7162-5
• Field of View = 1.6mm
Small brown mica crystals (identified with micro Raman) appear to float in their emerald host. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Light Field (Transmitted Light)
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7161-2
• Field of View = 2.8mm
Small brown mica crystals (identified with micro Raman) appear to float in their emerald host. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Light Field (Transmitted Light)
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7161-1
• Field of View = 2.2mm
This webbed fingerprint has a small area of orange staining. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7160-1
This emerald contained strong green color zoning. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Light Field (Transmitted Light)
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7159-1
• Field of View = 5.6mm
Analysis with micro Raman identified the transparent, rod-like inclusions in this Zambian emerald as apatite. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Light Field (Transmitted Light)
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7158-3
• Field of View = 1.6mm
Emerald in emerald. A hexagonal core of emerald can be seen in the center of this larger emerald sample from Zambia. Note that the core also has its own inclusions of iridescent planes and fine needles. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Light Field (Transmitted Light)
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7158-2
• Field of View = 3.2mm
Complex hexagonal zoning patterns can be viewed in this Zambian emerald. Specimen courtesy Gemfields.
Natural • Beryl • Emerald •
Zambia; Kafubu •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Diffuse Light Field + Crossed Polars
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
R-004-7158-1
• Field of View = 6mm
81 Total Images
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Search the Complete Hyperion Database
Emerald inclusions may include mineral crystals, fluid inclusions, multiphase inclusions, healed fissures, growth features and other internal features formed during or after crystal growth. Such features are important to gemologists because they can provide evidence useful in identifying emerald, understanding its geological history, recognizing treatment and, in some cases, determining geographic origin.
Emerald Inclusion Photomicrographs
The Hyperion emerald gallery includes microscopic features found in emeralds 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 Emerald
Inclusions are an important part of emerald identification. Their form, composition and associations can help gemologists distinguish natural emerald from synthetic material, recognize evidence of treatment, and study the geological environment in which the emerald formed.
Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from known emerald 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.
