Massive 11,000-Carat Ruby Discovered in Myanmar's War-Torn Gemstone Region

Myanmar Miners Uncover Rare Ruby in Conflict-Torn Region

Miners in Myanmar have made a significant discovery, uncovering a rare ruby of enormous size, considered to be the second-largest by weight ever found in the conflict-battered Southeast Asian nation. According to state media, the ruby weighed 11,000 carats (2.2 kilograms, or 4.8 pounds) and was unearthed near the town of Mogok, in the upper Mandalay region, the heartland of the lucrative gem-mining industry.

The discovery was reported by the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, which stated that the rough ruby was found in mid-April, just after the traditional New Year festival. Although it weighs roughly half the weight of a 21,450-carat (4.29 kilograms, or 9.45 pounds) stone found in 1996, the new discovery is considered more valuable due to its superior colour and quality.

The newly found ruby has a purplish-red hue with yellowish undertones, a high-quality colour grade, moderate transparency, and a highly reflective surface. Myanmar produces as much as 90 per cent of the world's rubies, primarily from the areas of Mogok and Mong Hsu. Gemstones, both legitimately traded and smuggled, are a major source of revenue for Myanmar.

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However, the gemstone mining industry has been tainted by human rights abuses and has served as a vital revenue stream for Myanmar's military governments over several decades. Human rights activists and organisations, such as the Britain-based research and lobbying group Global Witness, have urged jewellers to stop purchasing gems sourced from Myanmar. The industry has also been linked to funding for ethnic armed groups fighting for autonomy, a factor that has helped fuel decades of internal conflict.

The security of these mining regions remains volatile. Mogok was captured in July 2024 by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a guerrilla force representing the Palaung ethnic minority. Although the TNLA took over and operated the mines, control was eventually transferred back to Myanmar's army as part of a China-mediated ceasefire agreement concluded late last year.

Recently, the giant ruby was examined by President Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief who led the most recent military takeover in 2021, and his Cabinet at his office in the capital, Naypyitaw. The discovery of the rare ruby has highlighted the ongoing conflict and human rights concerns in Myanmar, which has been embroiled in a civil war for several decades.

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