From The Gemology Project
Un-heated Sapphires
Distorted guest crystal (possibly calcite) in an un-treated Burmese pink sapphire.
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Silk and guest crystals in an un-treated Burmese pink sapphire.
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Unusual cluster of rutile silk in an un-treated Madagascan pink sapphire.
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Calcite guest crystal in an un-treated Madagascan pink sapphire.
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Guest crystals in an un-treated Sri Lankan blue star sapphire. Fine rutile silk can be faintly seen in the background.
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A multitude of guest crystals in an un-treated Burmese blue star sapphire.
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Calcite guest crystals in an un-treated Burmese blue sapphire.
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Liquid fingerprint inclusion in an un-treated Burmese blue sapphire.
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Liquid fingerprint inclusion in an un-treated Burmese blue sapphire.
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Liquid fingerprints, guest crystals and two phase inclusions in an un-treated Burmese blue sapphire.
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Rounded guest crystals, possibly calcite, in an un-treated Burmese blue sapphire.
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Un-dissolved rutile silk in an un-treated Sri Lankan blue sapphire. Iridescent colours can be seen when this inclusion is viewed using a fibre optic light.
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Heated Sapphires
Microscopic particle inclusions with straight colour banding in a heat treated Thai blue sapphire. The particles give the stone a sleepy or hazy appearance which is common to sapphires from Kanchanaburi, Thailand.
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Beryllium-Treated Sapphires
Dendritic inclusion with 'cotton wool' type inclusions in beryllium-treated sapphire.
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Liquid tubular channel inclusions in beryllium-treated sapphire.
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Wheat-like feather inclusion in beryllium-treated sapphire.
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A cross-sectioned slice through a beryllium-treated sapphire. The orange colour rim is clearly visible around the pink core.
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