A three-phase inclusion is a small cavity that holds a liquid, a gas bubble and a crystal. The crystal is often a cube of salt (halite).
In more detail
It is a classic feature of Colombian emerald. Similar inclusions occur in emeralds from other places, such as Zambia. So they suggest an origin but do not prove it.
Related terms
- Emerald: Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of the mineral beryl. Chromium, vanadium or both cause its color.
- Jardin: Jardin, French for garden, is a trade word for the mossy, garden-like inclusions typical of emerald.
- Origin report: An origin report gives a lab's opinion on the country or region where a gem was mined.
- Inclusion: An inclusion is a clarity characteristic inside a diamond, or one that reaches the surface from inside.