Ceylon Sapphire Inclusions
Explore Ceylon sapphire inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural sapphires from Sri Lanka (Ceylon), documented with information on treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.
One of the classic inclusions found in Sri Lankan sapphires are negative crystals. These are generally filled with liquid carbon dioxide and sometimes contain a gas phase, too. In addition, hexagonal black graphite plates and slender diaspore needles are frequent guests in these tiny primary cavities.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0742-3
Koivula, J.I. (1986) Carbon dioxide fluid inclusions as proof of natural-colored corundum. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 152–155; RWHL*.
Koivula, J.I. (1980) Carbon dioxide as a fluid inclusion. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 16, No. 12, pp. 386–390; RWHL*.
One of the classic inclusions found in Sri Lankan sapphires are negative crystals. These are generally filled with liquid carbon dioxide and sometimes contain a gas phase, too. In addition, hexagonal black graphite plates and slender diaspore needles are frequent guests in these tiny primary cavities.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0742-2
Koivula, J.I. (1986) Carbon dioxide fluid inclusions as proof of natural-colored corundum. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 152–155; RWHL*.
Koivula, J.I. (1980) Carbon dioxide as a fluid inclusion. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 16, No. 12, pp. 386–390; RWHL*.
One of the classic inclusions found in Sri Lankan sapphires are negative crystals. These are generally filled with liquid carbon dioxide and sometimes contain a gas phase, too. In addition, hexagonal black graphite plates and slender diaspore needles are frequent guests in these tiny primary cavities.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
None Detected (None) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
E. Billie Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0742-1
Koivula, J.I. (1986) Carbon dioxide fluid inclusions as proof of natural-colored corundum. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 152–155; RWHL*.
Koivula, J.I. (1980) Carbon dioxide as a fluid inclusion. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 16, No. 12, pp. 386–390; RWHL*.
Heat-altered “snowball” like crystals when viewed in transmitted light in a heat-treated sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0737-2
Nassau, K. (1981) Heat treating ruby and sapphire: Technical aspects. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 121–131; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 672 pp.; RWHL*.
Heat-altered “snowball” like crystals in a heat-treated sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Oblique
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0737-1
Nassau, K. (1981) Heat treating ruby and sapphire: Technical aspects. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 121–131; RWHL*.
Gübelin, E.J. and Koivula, J.I. (2005) Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, Volume 3. Basel, Switzerland, Opinio Publishers, 672 pp.; RWHL*.
“Bubbly” melted crystals in a heat-treated sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Fiber Optic: Transmitted
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0728-2
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*.
Heat-altered “snowball” like crystals in a heat-treated sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Natural Sapphire •
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) •
Enhancements:
Heat (H) •
Lighting Conditions:
Dark Field
Photographer:
Richard W. Hughes •
Image Number:
A-001-0728-1
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*.
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Ceylon 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 Sri Lankan origin.
Ceylon Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs
The Hyperion Ceylon sapphire gallery includes microscopic features documented in sapphires from Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Each entry is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.
What Inclusions Can Reveal About Ceylon 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 Sri Lankan origin.
Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that individual features can be compared with documented examples from Ceylon 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.
