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| GEM ADVENTURES: Photo gallery of Mogok (Burma, Myanmar) | ||||||||||||||||
| MOGOK is the exotic, distant, principal source of the world's finest rubies, spinels, and exceptional blue sapphires. Tucked away in a lush, remote valley dotted with temples and populated with spirits, just the name alone resonates with remoteness and intrigue. While jewelers and even the public know that exquisite rubies come from Mogok, Myanmar, the source of the prized pigeon-blood ruby has until very recently been shrouded in mystery. Since the liberalization of mining in Mogok in the early 1990s and subsequent progressive policies of the Myanmar government, it was finally possible to gather some verifiable information about the place and its people. Ted Themelis visited Mogok repeatedly in 1996,1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003 and in 2001 and gathered geological specimens, surveyed the region and issued several confidential private reports. After six years of intense research he authored the narrative classic Mogok-Valley of Rubies & Sapphires, a unique book about Mogok, its history, its people, and its gems…. now available for immediate delivery. The continuation of this epic work is currently in its final implementation stages and titled Gems & Mines of Mogok, to be published soon. |
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  The Inn-gaung-pyant gem mines at Kyatpyin (left). Billboard sign at Pansho gem mines, Mogok (right).COPYRIGHT 1999 T.THEMELIS |
   A tattooed face of a Chin women (left), a clairvoyant (middle), and a Shan miner (right), represent just three diversified ethnic backgrounds of the Mogok people. COPYRIGHT 2000 T.THEMELIS |
  At Pein-pyit mine (left); hard-rock marble breakers working at Pingu-taung mine, Kyatpyin (right). COPYRIGHT 2000 T.THEMELIS |
  The historical gem mines at Bawpadan (left). Author and son Angelo, ready to descent 1000 feet into a deep tunnel at Kyauk-saung mine #16 (right). COPYRIGHT 2000 T.THEMELIS |
    Mogok gems (left to right): Peridot from Pyaung-gaung, ruby from Dattaw, blue sapphire from Thurein-taung, spinel from Panlin. ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT 1999 T.THEMELIS |
   Fine Mogok blue sapphire ring set with diamonds (left); two exceptionally fine Mogok gems: a blue sapphire and ruby, both from the Yadana-kaday-kadar"sinkhole" gem mine (middle); a fine Mogok ruby set with diamonds. COPYRIGHT 2000 T.THEMELIS |
1996-2008
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