~25 Ma Ruby Mineralization in the Mogok Stone Tract, Myanmar: New Evidence from SIMS U–Pb Dating of Coexisting Titanite

Ruby (red corundum) is one of the most prominent colored gemstones in world. The highest-quality ruby (“pigeon blood” ruby) comes from marbles Mogok Stone Tract central Myanmar. Although has been exploited since 6th century AD, formation time this gemstone ambiguous and controversial. In paper, we describe a mineralogical, geochemical, geochronological study titanite ruby-bearing obtained an outcrop Tract, Petrographic observations have shown that generally occurs marble matrix or as inclusions ruby. These two types exhibit identical chemical compositions. situ secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) U–Pb dating separated representative samples yielded lower intercept ages 25.15 ± 0.24 Ma (MSWD = 0.26) 25.06 0.22 0.15), respectively. Because closure temperature system close to growth, (~25 Ma) are suggested represent timing studied Mogok. acquired agreement with post-collisional extension Himalaya related migration eastern Himalayan syntaxis. Combining our results previous data suggest likely high-temperature metamorphic event during India–Asia collision. Our not only confirms texturally constrained could be precise geochronometer date mineralization different ruby, but also provides important information linking