Unusual Inclusions
Unusual Inclusion Gems
Gemstones with special inclusions occupy a unique place at the intersection of geology and aesthetics. Unlike traditional gems prized for flawless clarity, these stones are valued for the mineral, fluid, or structural features captured within them during formation. Inclusions may take the form of delicate rutile needles in quartz, copper platelets in feldspar, or entire crystals of one mineral suspended inside another. Each inclusion is a record of geological conditions—pressure, temperature, chemistry—preserved in three dimensions. This is an area of gemological interest which has seen rapid growth the past few decades.
Many of these special pieces contain inclusions of a different mineral species, creating the unique situation of a natural ‘gems within a gem.’ Quartz enclosing chlorite phantoms, tourmaline needles, or pyrite cubes offers a striking visual dialogue between host and guest. In rare cases, gems such as diamond may encapsulate garnet, olivine, or other mantle minerals, providing direct evidence of Earth’s deep interior. These stones are inherently one-of-a-kind; the precise orientation, composition, and growth sequence of their inclusions cannot be replicated.
Collectors and museums increasingly value such gems not despite their inclusions, but because of them. When expertly cut, the lapidary works with the internal landscape—framing, magnifying, or dramatizing the inclusions to create miniature geological worlds. The resulting stones record the mineral’s formation and feature it through the art of cutting.
Color: Various
Clarity: Translucent
Origin: Indonesia
Cut: Rectangular Cabochon
Treatments: None
Measurements: 27.3 x 11.5 mm
From a relatively new deposit comes this example of an extremely attractive and popular new variety of Chalcedony. The colors are exceptional - bright blues and greens - while the truly special aspect is the visible inclusions of Copper. This adds a texture and reflectivity that just serves to make this type even more appealing. Great look and excellent size.
$85 total
Color: Medium Light Yellow
Clarity: Heavily Included
Origin: Niaslo, Pakistan
Cut: Triangle
Treatments: None
Measurements: 7 mm
An intriguing one off gem from the area around Shigar. Otherwise entirely clean, the gem contains a veritable nest of Byssolite fibers (typically an amphibole mineral) that swirl and reflect throughout the entire stone. Nicely cut and a fine size to appreciate the effect of the Byssolite. Endlessly fascinating, one of the more interesting inclusion gems we have seen of late.
$40 / carat - $206 total
Color: Medium Dark Brown
Clarity: Heavily Included
Origin: Russia
Cut: Rectangular Cushion
Treatments: None
Measurements: 21.9 x 14.8 mm
A really fascinating and unique inclusion gem from a single Russian crystal. The wispy blades of Arsenopyrite are centered in the stone and have a fantastic texture and luster that catches the light. Great size for a stone like this and very, very well centered and cut.
$8 / carat - $150 total
Color: Colorless
Clarity: Slightly Included
Origin: Madagascar
Cut: Rectangular Step
Treatments: None
Measurements: 16.5 x 9.3 mm
One of these great inclusion stones from Madagascar - completely colorless Quartz framing a single bold and well formed Fluorite octahedron. Two points worthy of mention here - the quality of the cutting, much higher than is usually given Quartz. Secondly, the attractive blue-purple color of the Fluorite which makes for such a fine and aesthetic contrast. A great size and quite rare to have a single, great crystal that is largely transparent like this one.
$35 / carat - $342 total
Color: Dark Green
Clarity: Moderately Included
Origin: Brazil
Cut: Cut-Corner Rectangle
Treatments: None
Measurements: 7 x 4.4 mm
We have occasionally been able to offer these over the years - they are extremely interesting as one of the very few times that actual elemental copper is a visible inclusion in Tourmaline. They are known only from Brazil and have been documented for several decades. A very deep green, the bright, almost golden, platelets of precipitated copper reflecting nicely across the table. Quite hard to source and generally unavailable now.
$295 total
Color: Colorless
Clarity: Heavily Included
Origin: Paksitan
Cut: Rectangular Step
Treatments: None
Measurements: 12.1 x 10.5 mm
No doubt you have seen the very fine doubly terminated crystals of this material, it has been somewhat ubiquitous in the mineral world for several years. Despite this, there is always dearth of faceted stones - the pockets of bitumen and liquid petroleum make cutting rather difficult. Very happy to have found this one, the cutting is lovely and the petroleum pocket is highly fluorescent as you might suspect. Fun stone.
$125 total
Color: Colorless
Clarity: Slightly Included
Origin: Brazil
Cut: Rectangular Step
Treatments: None
Measurements: 7.9 x 7.6 mm
A striking inclusion gem. Colorless Quartz with a single, perfectly formed gemmy blue Apatite crystal suspended under the table. One of the most aesthetic examples we have seen, just pure joy for the gem enthusiast. .
$175 total
Color: Light Brown
Clarity: Heavily Included
Origin: Żółkiewka, Gmina Strzegom, Świdnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
Cut: Triangular Step
Treatments: None
Measurements: 18.3 x 16.3 mm
A highly unusual mineral combination from what is apparently the only source - Swidnica County, Poland. The rare mineral Bavenite is present here as the thin wispy needles throughout the Quartz host. A one-off stone from a collection and certainly one of the few from this deposit.
Color: Colorless
Clarity: Heavily Included
Origin: Brazil
Cut: Rectangular Step
Treatments: None
Measurements: 15.3 x 9.3 mm
We always enjoy seeing what new species with show up as an inclusion in Quartz. It hosts such a variety of other minerals that it seems each year there is something new and interesting. A few years ago, it was a limited find in Brazil that produced colorless Quartz with extremely well-formed (and entirely gem grade) crystals of Sphalerite. These wonderful triangular shapes float in the Quartz host, the light catching their deep brown-red color. Really lovely and quite fascinating - there was very little of this material mined.
$40 / carat - $225 total