Burmese Sapphire Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Burmese Sapphire Inclusions

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

Winged zircon crystal hovering within a sapphire from Myanmar’s Mogok Stone Tract.
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 melted crystals due to the high temperatures used.
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.
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.
Exsolved rutile silk is one of the classic inclusions found in Mogok sapphires.
Exsolved rutile silk opens a window into the heart of this unheated Mogok sapphire.
This corroded crystal guest in a Burmese sapphire represents a protogenetic inclusion, one that existed before the sapphire itself. Secondary exsolved rutile is visible in the background.
This corroded crystal guest in a Burmese sapphire represents a protogenetic inclusion, one that existed before the sapphire itself.
Intersecting boehmite needles in a Mogok (Burma) sapphire
This long green crystal of what is probably pargasite is an unusual guess in sapphire from Burma’s Mogok Stone Tract.
This sapphire crystal from Burma’s Mogok Stone Tract featured extremely large negative crystals with mobile carbon dioxide bubbles. These inclusions would rupture if heated, and so are proof of natural, untreated origin.
This sapphire crystal from Burma’s Mogok Stone Tract featured extremely large negative crystals with mobile carbon dioxide bubbles. These inclusions would rupture if heated, and so are proof of natural, untreated origin.

Search the Complete Hyperion Database

Burmese sapphire 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 sapphire and evaluating a possible Burmese origin.

Burmese Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs

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

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Burmese Sapphire

Inclusions are an important part of geographic origin determination in sapphire. 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 sapphires.

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.