Which term describes a break in a gemstone that is often white and feathery in appearance?

Which term describes a break in a gemstone that is often white and feathery in appearance?

• A. Eye-visible
• B. Etch Channels
• C. Feather (Ftr)
• D. Extra Facet (EF)

Answer: (C)

Feather inclusions describe internal fractures inside a gemstone that look like white, wispy lines—the crack radiates in a feathery pattern, giving it that characteristic appearance. This term specifically names the type of break, not how easily it can be seen or how the gem was cut. Eye-visible is about visibility to the naked eye, not the shape of the flaw. Etch channels are features from chemical attack on the surface, not feathery internal cracks. An extra facet is simply an additional cut facet, unrelated to internal breaks. So the term that best fits a break described as white and feathery is feather.

Feather inclusions describe internal fractures inside a gemstone that look like white, wispy lines—the crack radiates in a feathery pattern, giving it that characteristic appearance. This term specifically names the type of break, not how easily it can be seen or how the gem was cut. Eye-visible is about visibility to the naked eye, not the shape of the flaw. Etch channels are features from chemical attack on the surface, not feathery internal cracks. An extra facet is simply an additional cut facet, unrelated to internal breaks. So the term that best fits a break described as white and feathery is feather.