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What Countries Are Sapphires Found In?

Brilliant gems that sparkle in light, sapphires commonly possess a blue tint, though they can present as many different colors, including pink and yellow. Widely found in many countries around the world, sapphires of high color and quality remain somewhat rare, but several countries have gained notoriety for their production of high-quality sapphires.

Sri Lanka/Ceylon
- Located just south of India, Sri Lanka produces many high-quality sapphires every year, while maintaining an environmentally friendly mining process. The government carefully oversees gem mining and ensures that workers receive fair treatment. Sri Lanka boasts the oldest sapphire mining operation in the world, having operated for nearly 2,000 years, from the time when the country was known as Ceylon. Sapphires from Sri Lanka typically shine a deep blue.
Myanmar
- The Mogok Valley in Myanmar has made a name for itself with sapphires and other gems of high quality. Several gem mines exist in this area, and many consider Myanmar sapphires to be the highest quality. However, many countries have called for a boycott of Myanmar's gem auctions because of human rights violations. Forced labor and child labor are commonplace. Sapphires from Myanmar typically possess a deep blue color, but other colors can be found.
Madagascar
- There was a large influx of miners when sapphires were discovered in southern Madagascar in the late 1990s. Without government regulation, it was a chaotic time and lawlessness ruled. Today, miners work deep underground to mine sapphires; entire families, including the children, often work together. Locals often barely break even for their hard work mining these gems. Sapphires of various colors exist in this area, ranging from bright pink to orange.
Australia
- Miners unearth sapphires of varying quality and color in Australia, mostly in the Queensland area. Mined along with other gemstones, Australian sapphires are often exported to countries such as Thailand for production and cutting. Sapphire mining has occurred for more than 100 years in Queensland on the Anakie Field. The government carefully regulates the mining process in Australia for safety and to ensure that no child labor or forced labor occurs.
India
- The highest quality sapphires came from India, from the Kashmir region. Kashmir sapphires have a rich blue color with a hint of purple, and many consider them the standard for the perfect sapphire. The main mining operations closed more than 100 years ago, and the government locked the mines to prevent public access. Today, limited mining has recommenced, but so far few sapphires of quality have been found.

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