corundum, Thailand.12, gems

K.W. Findlay reports observations and trade information gathered during a second visit to Thailand in March 1978, concentrating on gemstone supplies, mining localities and the prominence of synthetic material. In Chanthaburi, numerous dealers offered faceted synthetics, while only a few displayed garnets and green sapphires. A lapidary supply shop stocked Chinese-made lap wheels, tools, lubricants and grindstones, together with coloured boules and half-boules from Idar-Oberstein. The author found little mining activity around Chanthaburi and reported that supplies from Pailin, Cambodia, had virtually ceased. Bo Rai, close to the Cambodian border, was identified as an active ruby source, with other ruby-producing localities named from information received during the visit. Sapphire sources near Chanthaburi included Bang Kacha and several other reported workings. Photographs document a narrow pit entrance at Khao Phloi Waen, a bamboo hoisting arrangement for raising gem gravel, and women of a mining family washing the recovered material. Vendors at the same locality offered natural green sapphires alongside Linde synthetic star sapphires and rubies, sapphire and ruby doublets, and dark red synthetic rubies with thin black star backings. The report also identifies Bo Phloi, north of Kanchanaburi, as a source of blue and green sapphires, with smaller quantities of yellow sapphire and chrysoberyl cat’s-eye. Information on newer sapphire occurrences around Phrae and Den Chai includes stones described as good royal blue, several individual mining areas and limitations on wet-weather access. Further reported occurrences include a gemfield near Sisaket and zircon from Cheom Ksan in Cambodia. Statements concerning Burmese supply restrictions, attributed to information obtained locally, describe closed mines and miners withholding rough because of difficulties using the proceeds to purchase goods. Thailand’s cutting industry is portrayed as international in scope, processing material from Sri Lanka, Australia, Colombia and Brazil. The author’s strongest impression, however, was the scale of the synthetic gemstone trade and its potential to mislead inexperienced tourists seeking bargains. Combining direct observations, photographic records and reported locality information, the account offers a contemporary snapshot of Thailand’s mining and lapidary economy and its changing regional supply connections.