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11,000-carat Ruby Discovered by Miners in Myanmar
Miners unearthed a 5-pound, 11,000-carat ruby near Mogok in Myanmar shortly after the traditional New Year festival in April. The stone has been identified as the second-largest ruby ever found in the country and was displayed this week at the office of President Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw.
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Miners working near the town of Mogok in Myanmar have unearthed a ruby weighing five pounds and measuring 11,000 carats. The discovery occurred shortly after the country’s traditional New Year festival in April, according to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar.
The gem was later displayed at the office of President Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw. The newly found ruby is the second-largest ever discovered in Myanmar. It weighs roughly half as much as the previous record holder, a 21,450-carat stone found in 1996.
State media reported that the new gem is considered more valuable because of its superior color, high-grade transparency and highly reflective surface.
Myanmar produces as much as 90 percent of the world’s rubies, primarily from the Mogok region. The country relies heavily on gemstones as a major source of revenue. Gemstone mining also provides income for armed groups operating in the area following the military takeover in 2021.
Myanmar have drawn scrutiny from human rights groups. These organizations have urged jewelers to stop purchasing stones sourced from the country because the industry has served as a revenue stream for military governments. The Associated Press reported that mining in the region serves as a primary source of income for armed groups fighting for autonomy.
