When I look at an inclusion scene in a gemstone, I feel like I’m transported to another dimension. I hope to share that feeling of wonder with everyone.
All of these photomicrographs are of gemstones that I own. They were all shot on either a Nikon D610 or Nikon Z7 with an F-mount microscope adapter on a 7X-45X Advanced Jewel Gem Stereo Zoom Microscope purchased from Amscope. Most are focus stacked—a composite of multiple images taken at successive focus distances so everything is in focus.
Thank you to all the friends and former colleagues that have been generous with their knowledge and helped me along the way.
Nicely formed reddish icosohedron crystal inclusion with visible triangular surface markings in a heated ruby. Field of view 2.2mm
Small needles of aligned rutile sparkle when hit with direct light inside this pink star sapphire. The light reflecting off of these needles of rutile is what causes asterism—the optical phenomenon which is responsible for making this gem a “star”. Field of view 4.4mm
A minute crystal of rutile inside this pink sapphire has been damaged by low heat treatment, as indicated by the sphere surrounding the small crystal. This heat damaged inclusion vaguely resembles a pokeball or the Death Star, depending on who you ask. Field of view 3.67mm
A very included pink sapphire with partially healed fingerprints, several negative crystals of apatite, as well as multiple prominent two phase inclusions consisting of several small, slender needles of diaspore (intact from lack of heat treatment) alongside tiny dark graphite crystals trapped in tabular negative crystals. Field of view 4.4mm
Minute spinel octahedra surrounding other larger negative crystal spinel octahedra inside a bigger purple spinel faceted gem. There are other solid metal inclusions here of unknown identity. Field of view 2.2mm
Multiple negative crystals in the form of perfectly shaped octahedra dance inside this red spinel. Field of view 1.8mm
Minute solid (likely zircon) crystals, each surrounded by a discoid tension fracture, float along inside this yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka. Field of view 4.4mm
Long needles of golden rutile inside this quartz cabochon evoke the image of pasta being dropped into boiling water. This image can also be called “Forbidden Pasta”. Field of view 4.4mm
It has been hypothesized that during the formation process of hyalite opal, trace uranium is deposited along with the silica during its growth giving an appearance not unlike tree rings. When exposed to long wave ultraviolet light, the stone glows a bright green. Under magnification, the rings of trace uranium are clearly visible. This image has been focus stacked, with some table facets shown to indicate the orientation of the gem. Field of view 4.4mm
Small, skeletal platy crystal of ilmenite that looks a bit like a multi-legged bug alongside brownish flakes of translucent mica—all trapped inside an emerald that is probably from Zambia. Field of view 1.1mm
Long parallel hollow growth tubes give the appearance of rain falling inside this blue aquamarine. Field of view 4.4mm
The concentrations of color seen in this composite sapphire come from the blue cobalt-doped lead glass that is used to fill fissures and bind the low quality colorless material, giving greater structural stability to the stone. Round air bubbles can also be seen trapped inside the glass filling. Field of view 4.4mm
This blue sapphire plays host to numerous inclusions making for a scene reminiscent of outer space. Seen here are apatite crystals, fingerprints, oriented rutile needles glittering under direct fiberoptic light, and solid metallic inclusions of unknown identity. Field of view 4.4mm
Cross-polarized light can reveal the internal strain within a natural diamond's atomic structure that isn't visible to the naked eye under normal lighting conditions. This also identifies diamonds as natural and not lab-grown Field of view 4.4mm
A trail of hexagonal etch pits march along on the face of this rough rock crystal quartz, mined in Herkimer, NY. Field of view 4.4mm
A two phase inclusion consisting of a gas bubble trapped in a liquid of unknown identity resemble a puffer fish swimming in the ocean inside this rough rock crystal quartz from Herkimer, NY. Field of view 4.4mm
Flakes of magnetite, looking a bit like the surface of burnt toast, are suspended inside this scapolite. Field of view 4.4mm
Air trapped inside the fractures of this tiny alexandrite can produce a rainbow of colors when lit from certain angles (Seen here lit by three different light sources as well as a mix of light temperatures). There is also an orangy substance scattered about. Field of view 3.3mm