Burmese Ruby Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Burmese Ruby Inclusions

Explore Burmese ruby inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural rubies from Myanmar (Burma), documented with information on treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.

The oiling of gems to improve their appearance is a treatment we see with increasing frequency, particularly with gems originating in Myanmar. Here is a Mogok ruby that shows oil leaking from the fissures following a few minutes contact with the hot point.
In this ruby from Mong Hsu, Myanmar, we can see both short rutile needles and more irregular wispy diaspore type silk.
When we spotted criss-crossing twin planes in this solid inclusion in a ruby from Mong Hsu, Myanmar, we thought it might be calcite. This was confirmed with Raman spectroscopy.
Twin planes are visible in this crystal that is suspended inside of a Mong Hsu ruby.
This Mong Hsu ruby contained a couple mineral inclusions, which were identified with micro Raman. The triangular whitish one is mica, and the lower luster material cut through is diaspore.
The natural on the pavilion of this ruby displayed a terraced appearance, reminiscent of a landscape.
A chalky angular pattern, viewed here in shortwave UV illumination, is a strong sign of heat treatment. Many rubies from Mong Hsu, Myanmar, are heated to remove the blue zones that are often present in the natural material.
Virtually all Burmese rubies from Mong Hsu feature deep blue cores surrounded by cottony diaspore silk, as shown here. In previous times, most of this material was heated with flux to remove the blue areas and heal the fissures. However with the high price difference between natural and heated rubies, we now see many Mong Hsu rubies that have not been treated.
Phantom clouds, made up of small particles arranged in angular zones, create a striking appearance in this Mong Hsu ruby.
A tiny rutile crystal (identified with micro Raman) was cut through on the surface of this ruby. It is notable for its high luster which appears almost metallic in comparison with the surrounding corundum.
A cluster of mica crystals (identified with micro Raman) was cut through on the surface of this Mong Hsu ruby. Note the cottony diaspore silk that can be seen in the background, which is typical of material from this origin.
It is relatively uncommon to see solid inclusions in Mong Hsu ruby, but this stone had a small cluster of transparent crystals. Micro Raman identified them as dolomite.

Search the Complete Hyperion Database

Burmese ruby inclusions may include mineral crystals, rutile silk, healed fissures, fluid inclusions, negative crystals, 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 ruby and evaluating a possible Burmese origin.

Burmese Ruby Inclusion Photomicrographs

The Hyperion Burmese ruby gallery includes microscopic features documented in rubies from Myanmar (Burma). Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Burmese Ruby

Inclusions are an important part of geographic origin determination in ruby. Their form, composition, orientation and associations can provide evidence that, when considered together with other gemological properties, may support or contradict a Burmese origin.

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

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.