Inclusion (mineral)

Dark inclusions of aegerine in light-green apatite

Sketch showing different shapes of inclusions

In mineralogy, an inclusion is any material that is trapped inside a mineral during its formation. In gemology, an inclusion is a characteristic enclosed within a gemstone, or reaching its surface from the interior.^[1]

According to Hutton's law of inclusions, fragments included in a host rock are older than the host rock itself.^[2]^[3]

^ "Types of Mineral Inclusions". Geology Page. 2017-06-03. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
^ "What Are Inclusions?". Retrieved 2020-08-08.
^ "Geologic Principles". imnh.iri.isu.edu. Archived from the original on 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2020-08-08.

[1] "Types of Mineral Inclusions". Geology Page. 2017-06-03. Retrieved 2020-08-08.

[:0-2] "What Are Inclusions?". Retrieved 2020-08-08.

[3] "Geologic Principles". imnh.iri.isu.edu. Archived from the original on 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2020-08-08.

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