Gemstone Inclusions basics
Have you ever gazed into the depths of a sparkling gemstone and noticed tiny imperfections within? These mesmerizing inclusions are like hidden stories within the stone, adding character and uniqueness to each precious gem. Let's delve into the basics of gemstone inclusions and uncover the beauty that lies beneath the surface.
Gemstone inclusions are materials trapped inside gems as they form. Learn how gemologists use inclusions to help identify gemstones and their sources.
Magnification opens the door to a fascinating dimension in gemology — the inner world of gemstone inclusions. You'll see marvels that can rival the beauty and intrigue of the gem itself. On a practical level, identifying inclusions may help you identify the gem species.
Gemstone inclusions can also reveal how a gem was formed and whether it's a natural or synthetic stone. Some gems have specific inclusions that their lookalikes lack. Some inclusions only occur in a single gemstone species or even in a single mine!
What are Gemstone Inclusions?
Simply put, an inclusion is any material that is trapped inside of another mineral while that mineral forms. For example, crystals, liquid or gas bubbles, or even fractures caused by radioactive material in the host material may comprise gemstone inclusions. Since researchers constantly discover new inclusions and varieties, a listing of inclusions can never be complete.
Viewing Gemstone Inclusions
Inclusions are instrumental in identifying many gemstone species. Nevertheless, viewing inclusions can be difficult. To study them, gemologists often use a microscope, preferably one with darkfield illumination. While a magnification of 30-60X (the range of most stereoscopic microscopes) may resolve many inclusions, some of the tinier ones require magnification of 200X or more.
Knowing how to use your microscope and various lighting techniques are essential skills for identifying inclusions. However, getting tiny details into sharp focus often proves quite challenging, if not impossible, in some cases. Sometimes, student gemologists can easily jump to conclusions about what they see through magnification.
Learning How to Distinguish Gemstone Inclusions
Discretion is essential. For example, can you make out the inclusion in the garnet pictured above? It's difficult to tell if the ends are terminated or if they're bubbles. As it turns out, they're terminated, which means the inclusion is a crystal. Crystal inclusions indicate a natural garnet, while bubbles would indicate a cheap synthetic. Thus, identifying this inclusion correctly would be critical.
If you can't see an inclusion clearly enough to distinguish its features, don't base an identification on it. If you're in doubt, look at all the available clues. A standard gemstone identification procedure should yield enough information to make a proper identification.
Learning to locate inclusions and distinguish their varieties takes practice, because pictures and descriptions serve only as guides. Gemology students should examine as many gemstones as possible, with a loupe first and then a microscope. Keep practicing until you're an expert at finding and identifying inclusions.