Gwebin
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Gwebin | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Gwebin Location in Burma | |
| Coordinates: 22°54′N 96°5′E / 22.900°N 96.083°E | |
| Country |  Burma |
| Region | Mandalay Region |
| District | Pyin Oo Lwin District |
| Township | Mogok Township |
| Time zone | UTC+6.30 (MST) |
Gwebin is a village in Mogok Township, Pyin Oo Lwin District, in the Mandalay Region of central Burma. It is located 16 miles (26 km) west of Mogok.[1][2] A track (National Road 311 and National Highway 31) connects it to Shwenyaungbin and Mogok.[3]
The Mogok valley is notable for its ruby and sapphire mining, and Burma Ruby Mines Ltd. has operated in the area for decades.[4] However, the village of Gwebin is noted in particular for its unusually large sapphire stones.[5] On August 12, 1929, a group of laborers discovered a record 958 carat doubly truncated bipyramid sapphire near Gwebin which sold for £13,000 to a New York dealer who later cut it into nine different stones. [citation needed] In the Mogok valley, the crystals occur in metamorphic limestone, which due to weathering turns into a yellowish clay.[6]
Gwebin was occupied by the Japanese during World War II.[7] Later, the 18th Allied troops were forced to retreat in vehicles three miles to the north of Gwebin and were seen two days later at Ywathit.[8]
In February 1994, another massive 502 carat sapphire was unearthed near Gwebin.[9]