New rubies reported as “Mozambique” appeared in the market in Bangkok and Chanthaburi. It seems that this new material is coming from an area near the famous Niassa National Park in Northern Mozambique.

Rubies reported from the Niassa region in Mozambique are available in Bangkok and Chanthaburi as unheated stones, but also either as flux heated or lead glass filled material. Unlike the Winza stones it seems that the low quality Niassa material is suitable for heat treatment either using the flux or lead glass technologies depending on the quality of the rough.

They are often dark in tone but some stones were a very attractive bright red and clean. Compared to the Winza rubies (which are sometimes mixed with Niassa rubies) Niassa rubies are often less transparent; probably due to their silk inclusions. Blue color zoning, a common feature in Winza material, was not noticed in the current Niassa samples.