Rare 11,000-carat ruby found in Myanmar's conflict-hit Mogok

Key Points:

• Miners in Myanmar have discovered an 11,000-carat (2.2 kg) ruby near Mogok, making it the second-largest ruby ever found in the country and notable for its superior color and quality.
• The ruby features a purplish-red hue with yellowish undertones, moderate transparency, and a highly reflective surface, increasing its value despite being smaller than a 21,450-carat stone found in 1996.
• Myanmar produces up to 90% of the world’s rubies, with gem mining centered in Mogok and Mong Hsu, and the industry is a significant revenue source for both the military government and ethnic armed groups.
• Human rights organizations have called on jewelers to boycott Myanmar gemstones due to their role in funding military regimes and ongoing internal conflicts.
• The current government, led by military chief Min Aung Hlaing after a controversial election, recently examined the ruby, underscoring the gem’s symbolic and economic importance amid the country’s civil war.