Mogok material saw the price forced down by the Mong Hsu material. Several dealers lost a lot of money before they got the process right. But now the Thais are the only ones who have perfected the heating of Mong Hsu rough, so they buy the bulk of it. Mong Hsu suffered a mysterious explosion at the mines in early January 2000 that reportedly killed hundreds of miners, possibly over a thousand. However, Mong Hsu produces lower-quality rough, of which there's already an abundance on the market.
Fine stones remain in short supply.
Most of the Mong Hsu rough has been coming over the border near Mae Sai, Thailand's northernmost point, in the second half of 2000, Brooke said. A buyer examines rubies for sale at a street-side table set up for the weekend market, held on Fridays and Saturdays in Chanthaburi. Photos by Mick Elmore. The answer seems to depend on whom you ask, but dealers can find ruby at both crossings. Aside from the problems at the mines, the political situation along the Thai-Myanmar border has also helped to tighten supply.