Pierres Precieuses - Gems

There are some tour operators running tours to Mogok, the main ruby producing area, but access to all mining areas is extremely restricted (often impossible) and tours will only go to carefully selected mines. There are major human rights and environmental concerns about the gemstone mining industry in Myanmar, do some research before you go shopping so you know what questions to ask (though however good your questions it's hard to find out much). This recent article in the NY Times outlines issues in the Jade industry but there are similar issues across the gem mining industry:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/02/world/searching-for-burmese-jade-and-finding-misery.html?_r=0 



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