Minerals from Burma

Myanmar, still often referred to as Burma in the mineral trade, is best known for its gemstones rather than broader mineral specimen production.

The country is one of the world’s primary sources of high-quality ruby, particularly from the Mogok region. These rubies have been mined for centuries and are often considered among the finest in the world in terms of colour and clarity. While most are faceted, some terminated crystals do occasionally reach the specimen market, though they’re not common.

Mogok also produces a wide range of other gem minerals including spinel, sapphire, zircon, apatite, and scapolite. Some of the spinels, especially the pink and red octahedral crystals, are particularly attractive as natural specimens when they’re not cut.

There are also occasional specimens of peridot from the Mogok area. That said, much of the material from Myanmar is gem rough, and high-quality mineral specimens with good provenance can be hard to come by.

The jadeite from northern Myanmar, particularly from Kachin State, is another major export – though again, it’s almost entirely used for carving and jewellery rather than sold as natural specimens.

Many Burmese localities are poorly documented, and export has historically been tightly controlled, with much of the material leaving the country via Thailand. Labels may reference either country depending on the route the specimen took to market.

It is also worth highlighting that civil war has been ongoing in Burma for nearly a century, and there is evidence of slavery in mining in various locations. As a result, I do not buy from the country – any specimens sold are second hand from older collections.

Burma