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Sapphire

The name “sapphire” can also apply to any corundum that’s not ruby red, another corundum variety.

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Green musgravite crystals observed in a faceted green sapphire. Darkfield and fiber-optic illumination. Photomicrograph by Titapa Tanawansombat; field of view 1.8 mm.

Rare Musgravite Crystal in Green Sapphire

Titapa Tanawansombat, November 1, 2024

A surface-reaching crystal in a green sapphire is identified as musgravite.

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Iridescent partially healed fissure observed in a 4.13 ct blue sapphire. Photomicrograph by Kanako Otsuka; field of view 2.12 mm.

Rainbow-Colored Partially Healed Fissure in Blue Sapphire

Kanako Otsuka, November 1, 2024

An iridescent partially healed fissure is observed in a blue sapphire from Sri Lanka.

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Figure 1. Blue sapphires from the Matepwende area in southern Tanzania. Most of the production consists of low-clarity material in matrix. Only a very small percentage (usually weighing less than 1 ct) is clean enough to be faceted. Photo by Vincent Pardieu.

New Production of Sapphire from Matepwende, Tanzania

Aaron Palke and Vincent Pardieu, November 1, 2024

Reports on the study of sapphire samples from a newly discovered source in southern Tanzania.

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Clouds of particles in sapphire resembling tire marks in snow. Photomicrograph by Shunsuke Nagai, field of view 2.30 mm.

Sapphire Displaying Tire Tracks in Snow

Masumi Saito, August 2, 2024

Particle clouds close to the surface of a blue sapphire create a scene reminiscent of tire tracks in snow.

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The fascinating Star of David pattern within partially healed fissures adds to the allure of this sapphire’s micro-world. Under brightfield illumination, the grayish areas that remained unhealed were iridescent in some areas. Photomicrograph by Tinh Xuan Nguyen; field of view 1.8 mm.

Star of David Pattern in Vietnamese Sapphire

Tinh Xuan Nguyen, August 2, 2024

A Star of David pattern is observed within partially healed fissures in a sapphire from southern Vietnam.

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A large surface-reaching spinel inclusion in a Burmese pink sapphire from Mogok, shown in darkfield and oblique illumination. Photomicrograph by Kyaw Thu; field of view 1.3 mm.

Transparent Spinel Inclusion in Pink Sapphire

Sai Gon Khay and Kyaw Thu, August 2, 2024

A pink sapphire from Mogok hosts a large surface-reaching spinel inclusion.

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A three-phase fluid inclusion in a Sri Lankan sapphire. Photomicrograph by Nathan Renfro; field of view 4.79 mm.

Graphite in Sapphire

John I. Koivula and Nathan Renfro, August 2, 2024

A three-phase fluid inclusion containing graphite is observed in a Sri Lakan sapphire.

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Inclusions combine to create a bird pattern inside a Montana sapphire. Photomicrograph by Isabelle Corvin; field of view 2.4 mm.

Unique Fingerprint in Montana Sapphire

Isabelle Corvin, August 2, 2024

A group of fingerprint and crystal inclusions form the shape of a bird in a Montana sapphire.

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1.23 ct, unheated rough from Ilakaka, Madagascar

Article

The Nature of the Be-Nb-Ta Containing Cloud in Natural Madagascar Blue Sapphire – An FIB/HRTEM Study

Andy Shen, June 14, 2024

Investigates the nature of nano-inclusions of elements such as niobium, tantalum, and tungsten in the milky regions of natural beryllium-bearing sapphires.

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Figure 2. Three Montana sapphires showing a range of silkiness, from virtually none (2.80 ct green round cut by Craig Oliveira) to moderate (10.33 ct blue cushion cut by Victor Tuzlukov) to strong (21.20 ct hazy green “silk bomb” cut by Tuzlukov). Photo by Robert Weldon; courtesy of Obsessed Over Gems.

Montana Sapphire at Obsessed Over Gems

Jennifer Stone-Sundberg, May 3, 2024

Obsessed Over Gems offered an array of unheated Montana sapphires in a range of hues, cuts, and sizes at the AGTA show.

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