dailyloe.com – Miners in Myanmar have discovered an 11,000-carat ruby, making headlines as the second-largest ruby ever found in the nation. The find was reported by state media on Friday. The ruby was unearthed near Mogok, in the Mandalay region, a key area for gem mining.
The ruby weighs 4.8 pounds and was discovered in mid-April, shortly after Myanmar’s traditional New Year festival. While this ruby is smaller than a 21,450-carat ruby found in 1996, it is considered more valuable due to its superior color and quality.
The new ruby exhibits a purplish-red hue with yellowish undertones, a high-quality color grade, moderate transparency, and a highly reflective surface. Myanmar is known to produce approximately 90% of the world’s rubies, primarily from Mogok and Mong Hsu.
Gemstones, both legally traded and smuggled, are significant revenue sources for Myanmar. However, human rights activists, including the group Global Witness, are urging jewelers to avoid purchasing gems sourced from Myanmar, as the industry has historically funded military governments.
A new civilian government was installed this year following elections that have been criticized by human rights and opposition groups as a sham. President Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief who led the 2021 military takeover, returned to power after these elections.
The giant ruby was examined by Hlaing and his Cabinet in Naypyitaw. Gemstone mining also funds ethnic armed groups fighting for autonomy, contributing to ongoing internal conflict.
The security situation in mining regions remains volatile. Mogok was captured in July 2024 by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, a guerrilla force representing the Palaung ethnic minority. Control of the mines was eventually returned to Myanmar’s army as part of a ceasefire agreement mediated by China.
