Myanmar miners discover rare 11,000-carat ruby weighing nearly five pounds

Miners in Myanmar have unearthed an 11,000-carat ruby thought to be the second heaviest ever found in the war-torn country.

The ruby, pictured sitting at the president office in Naypyidaw, weighs around 2.2 kilograms, or 4.8 pounds.

It was unearthed near the town of Mogok, in the upper Mandalay region, the heartland of the Asian nation's lucrative gem-mining industry.

The area has recently experienced intense fighting in the country's wide-ranging civil war.

The rough ruby was discovered in April, just after the traditional New Year festival, according to a report from the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar.

It is considered to be the second-largest by weight ever found in the country, according to state media.

While it weighs half the weight of a 21,450-carat stone found in 1996, weighing 4.29kg, or 9.45lbs, the newest discovery is considered to be more valuable due to its superior colour and quality.

The ruby is described as having a purplish-red hue with yellowish undertones, along with a high-quality colour grade, moderate transparency and a highly reflective surface.

Myanmar produces as much as 90% of the world's rubies, which are primarily from the areas of Mogok and Mong Hsu.

Gemstones are a major source of revenue for Myanmar.

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But human rights activists and organisations, including Britain-based research and lobbying group Global Witness, have urged jewellers to stop purchasing gems sourced from Myanmar, which they say has served as a vital revenue stream for its military governments over several decades.

A new, seemingly civilian government was installed this year, but followed elections described by human rights and opposition groups as a sham.

The election returned President Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief who led the most recent military takeover in 2021, to power.

At his office in the capital, he and his cabinet examined the giant ruby.

(c) Sky News 2026: Myanmar miners discover rare 11,000-carat ruby weighing nearly five pounds