Massive 11,000-carat ruby unearthed by miners in Myanmar

World Massive 11,000-carat ruby unearthed by miners in Myanmar, officials say Updated on: May 8, 2026 / 10:24 AM EDT / AP Add CBS News on Google Miners in Myanmar have discovered a rare ruby of enormous size, considered to be the second-largest by weight ever found in the conflict-battered Southeast Asian nation, state media reported Friday.The ruby, measuring 11,000 carats and 4.8 pounds, was unearthed near the town of Mogok, in the upper Mandalay region, the heartland of the lucrative gem-mining industry that has recently experienced intense fighting in the country's wide-ranging civil war.According to a report from the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, the newly found rough ruby was discovered in mid-April, just after the traditional New Year festival.While it weighs roughly half the weight of a 21,450-carat stone found in 1996, the new discovery is considered more valuable due to its superior color and quality. It is described as having a purplish-red hue with yellowish undertones, a high-quality color grade, moderate transparency and a highly reflective surface. Myanmar's newly discovered ruby is displayed at the president's office in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP Photo Myanmar produces as much as 90% 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. Human rights activists and organizations such as the Britain-based research and lobbying group Global Witness have urged jewelers to stop purchasing gems sourced from Myanmar, as the industry has served as a vital revenue stream for its military governments over several decades.A new, ostensibly civilian government was installed this year, but it followed elections described by human rights and opposition groups as a sham. The vote returned to power President Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief who led the most recent military takeover in 2021. He and his C...