​Business 713-239-0812
​Text 713-298-9405
Jewelry Artisan • Gemologist • Designer
SUPERIOR DETAIL AND ACCURACY
Burma Blue Sapphire and Ruby
(Mogok)
%20Blue%20Sapphire%20%26%20Ruby%20in%20Host%20Rock.jpg)
BLUE SAPPHIRE
Mogok, Myanmar (previously Burma) (Southern Asia)
Gemstone Marketing Trade Term: "Burma"
Geography: Metamorphic (Low-Iron)
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Composition: Corundum (AI₂O₃ (crystallized aluminum oxide)) + Iron + Titanium trace elements
​
Corundum is typically colorless. The trace elements, as with other stones, create color in the mineral. Iron is practically everywhere, but when it mixes with Titanium it causes beautiful Blue Sapphire; when Chromium tags along, the Corundum becomes Ruby.
Mogok is located in the Mandalay Region. It is a well known source for Blue Sapphire and Ruby deposits; it borders Shan State where Mong Hsu rubies are sourced.
The Baw Mar Sapphire Mine is an open-pit mine where ramp mining is done. It is located on the west side of Mogok near the village of Kyat Pyin.
​
There are also tents and makeshift metal huts with independent miners around the area. The tents cover primitive shafts leading to tunnels of ore encompassing Sapphire and Ruby.
​Some shafts descend hundreds of feet to reach the host rock. These shafts and tunnels are extremely tight. The host rock removed from underground is a soft feldspar. Once the daunting task of carrying the rock out is complete, washing and sorting take place to expose the crystals.
​
Mine Shaft under covered tarp for miners to descend into tunnels
Inclusions & Clarity Characteristics​
Characteristics of Blue Sapphires from Mogok (Burma) include long and short slender rutile needles. They are very distinct to Myanmar.
​
Long rutile silk needles, colliding with platelets and shorter needles help give evidence to a Burma Blue Sapphire. It is likely to see nests of these needles, like sprinkling pepper in the Sapphire.
Burma Blue Sapphire - tightly nested needles
Burma Blue Sapphire - rutile silk, needles mixed with fibers
RUBY
Mogok, Myanmar (previously Burma) (Southern Asia)
Gemstone Marketing Trade Term: "Burma"
Geography: Metamorphic (Low-Iron)
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Composition: Corundum (AI₂O₃ (crystallized aluminum oxide)) + Chromium, Vanadium, Titanium, Iron trace elements​
Ruby and Sapphire mines with tents covering shafts leading to narrow tunnels
Similar to Sapphire, ramp style mining and tunnels are formed when mining for Ruby also. The Dattaw Ruby mine is located high on the North Eastern side of Mogok. The marble host rock in the tunnels is rich with calcite.
Once mined, the ore is hoisted to the top and broken apart further for the Ruby inside.
Villagers are allowed to sift through discarded material at Sapphire and Ruby mines. It supports local trade and provides an extra source of financial means for living. The land is spiritual, and so are the villagers.​​
Inclusions & Clarity Characteristics​
Roiled graining is common in Mogok Rubies. With the correct magnification and lighting it can be seen. Dense zoned clouds of tiny rutile needles within the crystal structure can be found as well.
​
Burma Rubies can also contain many different types of minerals like apatite, calcite, graphite, double negative, and negative crystals.​​​​​​
Roiled graining and arrowhead silk
Clusters of crystals with fine silk
If the Blue Sapphire or Ruby is free of inclusions, the gemstone should be submitted to GIA for a chemical analysis with further instruments for testing origin. However, because the chemical composition of these gemstones are generally the same, this process is not as accurate as the identifying clarity characteristics.
