Massive ruby unearthed in conflict-hit region of Burma
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A massive ruby unearthed in Burma is being hailed as the second largest ruby ever discovered in the conflict-torn country.
The ruby weighs about 11,000 carats (about 4.8 pounds) and was unearthed near Mogok in the conflict-affected Mandalay region, the center of Burma’s jewelry industry, The Associated Press reported, citing state media.
The stone was found in mid-April, shortly after the country’s traditional New Year celebrations.
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Burma’s newly discovered ruby is displayed in the president’s office in Naypyitaw on May 7, 2026. (Myanmar Military Real News Information Team/AP)
Although it is roughly half the size of the 21,450-carat ruby discovered in 1996, experts say the new find may be more valuable because of its higher quality.
It has a purplish-red color with slight yellow undertones, moderate transparency, and a highly reflective surface.
Burmese President Min Aung Hlaing and his cabinet examined the stone in the country’s capital, Naypyidaw.
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Burmese officials examine a newly discovered ruby at the president’s office in Naypyidaw on May 7, 2026. (Myanmar Military Real News Information Team/AP)
Burma produces 90% of the world’s rubies, mostly from Mogok and nearby Mong Hsu.
The jewelery trade – both legal and illegal – is a major source of income in the country.
But human rights groups including Global Witness have long urged jewelers to avoid buying Burmese gemstones, saying the trade helps fund the country’s military governments, the Associated Press reported.
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This photo taken on May 16, 2019, shows miners working in a ruby mine in Mogok, north of Mandalay. (Ye Aung Thu/AFP via Getty Images)
Gemstone mining also contributes to Burma’s long-running conflicts by financing ethnic armed groups fighting for autonomy.
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Mining regions remain unstable.
Mogok was captured by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group, in July 2024. Control later returned to the military under a ceasefire agreement brokered by China late last year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
